Armed Forces Draw Priest to Chaplain Role

June 30, 2025

By Ryan Johnson

Father John Brobbey is trading in his black dress shoes for a pair of military boots.

The St. Francis of Assisi parish parochial vicar is the latest from the Diocese of Des Moines to pursue military chaplaincy. He follows in the footsteps of Father Zachary Kautzky, Capt., who currently serves as a cadet chaplain at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Originally from Ghana, Father Brobbey serves the West Des Moines parish and is now taking steps to become a U.S. military chaplain and officer.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. In fact, the process began more than a year ago, when Father Brobbey received an unexpected letter in August 2023 from a military chaplain asking if he had ever considered serving in the armed forces — either in the reserves or on active duty.

“I thought it was a kind of a joke when I received that letter,” Father Brobbey recalls. “Never in my life did I consider serving as a chaplain in the military.”

He set the letter aside. But then a phone call came.

“A priest named Father Nick called to discuss the possibility of becoming a military chaplain,” he says. “I told him I needed to speak with my bishop in Ghana first, and he agreed to wait for a response.”

A Trip to Ghana

In December 2023, Father Brobbey traveled home to Ghana and met with his bishop to discuss the invitation. The bishop requested a personal letter explaining why Father Brobbey may be a good chaplain. Only then would his bishop consider the idea.

Once again, the idea was placed on the back burner. But the military remained persistent. In spring 2024, another priest — who had taken over for Father Nick — reached out again. He mentioned that Father Brobbey’s name was still on file, with a note that he was waiting on word from his bishop in Ghana.

When Father Brobbey explained the bishop’s request for a letter, the military chaplain asked for the bishop’s email address and sent the letter that same day.

“The following day, I received a call from my bishop, acknowledging the letter received from the U.S. military about me serving as a chaplain. My bishop asked me to do one more thing. He wanted me to speak to a priest who serves as an advisor to my bishop.”

Time passed again. Then, in fall 2024, while attending a priest workshop in Ames, Father Brobbey received a video from a friend back in Africa. It showed an army officer vesting for Mass. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Later that same morning, he received a call from his bishop in Ghana, who asked if he had spoken to the advisor priest yet.

“When I told him no, he said, ‘Why are you waiting?’” Father Brobbey recalls.

And then the phone rang again — this time from the military chaplain.

“All I could say was, ‘Wow.’ It really felt like a sign from the Holy Spirit,” he recalls.

That moment prompted him to finally speak with the priest advisor, who encouraged him to continue discerning the call. With that support, Father Brobbey made his decision: he would apply to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. military.

Next Steps

Before officially entering military service, Father Brobbey is required to complete a clinical pastoral education residency at a hospital in New York and pass an English proficiency exam.

What excites him most about the role is the opportunity to be a source of support and presence to military personnel.

Father Brobbey is deeply grateful for his time in the Diocese of Des Moines.

“I want to thank Bishop (William) Joensen, Father Ray McHenry, Father Joseph Pins, Father Michael Acquah, Father Daniel Adjei, and Father Alex Kramer,” he says. “And the people of St. Francis — this is the best parish I’ve been to since leaving Ghana.”