Vance chaplain deploying, leaving base without a priest

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Vance was without a priest when he arrived, and will be without one when he departs next week for a four-month deployment to Al Udeid in Qatar. 

Chaplain (Capt.) Samuel Licanda, a native of the Philippines, has been the only Catholic priest at Vance for the past year. When he arrived in early 2007, he was a new captain and a new U.S. citizen. 

Last Sunday, he celebrated his last Mass at the Vance Chapel until he returns from deployment in early January. A fellowship was held afterwards to let folks say goodbye. "The good thing about goodbyes is the following hellos later," said Chaplain Licanda. 

He was a third-year engineering student at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City, the Philippines, when he decided to become a priest. During his three years in college, he never felt a focus. But after he started singing in the choir at a 400-year old parish in Cebu City, he decided the priesthood was his future. 

It was hard to convince his parents that quitting his engineering study and attending San Carlos Seminary College in Cebu City was a good idea. "They felt it was a waste of the first three years not to finish. I knew it would be a waste of the last two years if I did," said Chaplain Licanda. 

He immigrated to the United States in 2000, taking a position with Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in downtown San Francisco. "It was a very interesting parish," said Chaplain Licanda. "Most of the parishioners were Asian, mostly Filipino. They needed a Filipino priest to help in the parish." 

After four years at Saint Patrick's, Chaplain Licanda moved to San Jose, Calif., to serve as a hospital chaplain. When his U.S. citizenship was granted in 2006, he decided to join the Air Force. 

"It was my way of giving back to Uncle Sam for giving me citizenship," he said. "And it is my way of appreciating the service of our troops." 

He will be the only Catholic priest at Al Udeid during his deployment. Twice a month he will travel to Saudi Arabia where he will conduct Mass for embassy employees. 

His first deployment comes within his first two years of Air Force service. "There is a very short list of Catholic chaplains available for deployment," said Chaplain Licanda. "Colonel Nowland tells me I am a LDHD priest -- low-density, high demand," he said with a smile. 

Col. Mark C. Nowland is the 71st Flying Training Wing commander at Vance. 

"As a military chaplain, I have to serve in two roles," said Chaplain Licanda. "As a priest, I have to take care of the Catholic community. As an officer, I have to defend the practice of religion in general. I must open my heart to all kinds of religions, so I can be all things to all people." 

It took a while for Chaplain Licanda to become comfortable wearing the battle dress uniform instead of his priest collar. "The collar is a priest's identity," he said. 

During Chaplain Licanda's deployment, Vance Catholics can attend Mass at either Saint Francis-Xavier Catholic Church or Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Enid. See http://www.vance.af.mil/communitynotes/index.asp for schedules and locations. 

According to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Gilbert, the 71st Flying Training Wing chaplain, a Reserve replacement for Chaplain Licanda has been requested, but no response yet.