I am Fr. Philip Creider. I am a Priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. I am a Navy Chaplain. I presently serve as the Command Chaplain aboard USS BOXER. We are presently in the middle of a two month exercise in Latin America. We have stopped in Guatemala, El Salvador, and now Peru. Our continuous job has been to send doctors, nurses, corpsmen, and veterinarians ashore to offer medical and dental treatment, to fix medical equipment, to teach medical skills, and to test and purify water sources. On most days, we see about 1000 patients in a variety of sites. The sites have previously been chosen because of their isolation and poverty. We also send Seabees ashore who have built and fixed clinics, schools, and mission churches. We send Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Soldiers ashore to clean, paint, and fix the same kinds of buildings.
We are presently in Peru, serving in the Diocese of Huacho. Today, I met the Bishop.
I am writing to you because I once served at St. John’s and I see that your parish has a mission in Peru. Fr. Joe Uhen was one of my students at Bishop McGuinness High School in the early 1970s.
I just had to write to your parish and tell you of our connection over the miles. Please give my regard to your pastor, Fr. John.
I send my best.
Fr. Phil
Chaps.
1 comment:
Father Creider,
I was in the youth group at Our Lady's Cathedral in Oklahoma City in the 80's and remember you fondly. I joined the Navy in 1986, became a SEAL in 1993 and retired in 2006. Just today I discovered that you are a Navy Chaplain since 1990. You were and are today a stellar example of service to you fellow man. Hope to see you in the near future.
Frank Davis
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