Brunssum, The Netherlands – On Friday, 11 October, the Bishop for the Military Ordinariate of The Netherlands, Monseigneur Everard De Jong, visited Joint Force Command Brunssum (HQ JFCBS). He was accompanied by Chancellor-Economist Father Hans Bouman and Armed Forces Chief Military Chaplain Deacon Jean Paul Thöni.
Monseigneur De Jong was welcomed by the Commander of JFC Brunssum,
General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta. He and his delegation received an
introduction into the history of the Headquarters, along with its current tasks
and responsibilities.
Following the closure of the official programme at HQ JFC Brunssum in the morning, Monseigneur De Jong visited the Chapel and met with members of the Camp Hendrik community.
Within the Alliance, religious support and activities for staff members and their families are not a direct responsibility of NATO as an organisation; it falls onto the different member nations to care for these needs. Different national delegations represented in HQ JFCBS regularly offer religious services — mostly conducted by clerics of their respective Armed Forces — at the JFCBS Chapel for their staff members and families. These services are also open to all other interested military and civilian staff and their family of the Camp Hendrik community.
Services are normally conducted at the JFCBS Chapel on the compound of Camp Hendrik. The daily operation of this Chapel is carried out by the US delegation and coordinated by the US Chaplain, while the maintenance and other services are dealt with by HQ JFC Brunssum. The Chapel is available free of charge for everybody of the Camp Hendrik community, including military, civilians, and family members from all faiths and religious denominations.