A new smartphone app has been released to help Catholics serving in the UK military to connect with their faith.
Newsroom (05/06/2025 12:20 , Gaudium Press) A new smartphone app has been launched to help Catholic military personnel in the UK stay connected to their faith. Developed with the support of the Catholic Bishopric of the Forces, the app aims to provide “spiritual first aid” to service members by offering prayers, testimonies, and direct access to military chaplains.
Dubbed Catholic Military Connect, the app serves as a “single point of access for prayer, information, answers to questions, and much-needed spiritual first aid,” according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The platform is designed to offer support wherever personnel are stationed, with the tagline: “It’s an app that helps you learn and pray, wherever you are.”
The Bishops’ Conference highlighted the unique challenges faced by military personnel, stating, “There are times, on active duty and at home, when life in the Forces can be very challenging. Often, it is one’s faith that provides vital support when under pressure.”
Bridging Faith and Technology
Bishop Paul Mason, the Catholic Bishop of the Forces, emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to reach service members and their families. “So often in the Church we talk about ‘meeting people where they are,’ and this app aims to do just that,” he said.
Recognizing that younger generations often turn to digital platforms for spiritual guidance, Bishop Mason explained, “Young people today are far more likely to access questions of faith via their smartphone rather than turn to books or libraries.”
The app provides a wealth of resources, including answers to faith-related questions, military-specific prayers, testimonies from fellow service members, and inspirational quotes. It also features a dedicated section on “Spiritual First Aid,” which connects users with chaplains and organizations like Apostolat Militaire International (AMI).
Features for Faith and Fellowship
Among its key functions, Catholic Military Connect allows users to directly contact military chaplains and access a database of prayers in multiple languages. It also includes a link to the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions.
Additionally, the app hosts a collection of testimonies from serving personnel and stories of military saints, offering both encouragement and spiritual growth. “The app provides a bank of prayers which can help and inspire those in the Forces—whether alone or together,” the Bishops’ Conference noted.
Developed in collaboration with Tweeting with GOD (now DeoQuest), the initiative underscores the Church’s commitment to supporting military personnel through modern means. As Bishop Mason put it, the goal is to ensure that faith remains a steadfast companion, no matter where duty calls.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
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