The archangels, gifts of GodMary, Our Blessed Mother, always knows what she is doing.
Omnes had a chance to speak to Reverend Mark Arbeen, Chaplain Program Manager to the United States Secret Service. He spoke about his decision to convert to Catholicism, his position, and good old Saint Michael.
It was in Mexico City in 2003 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mass before his wedding when Mark made a promise to our Blessed Mother.
He was seated not too far from the altar and fell into what his friend described as a "trance." I wasn't breathing, I wasn't moving, I was staring," shared Mark. But recalls uttering the words to Our Blessed Mother, "If she [his soon-to-be wife] becomes pregnant, I'll become Catholic." He said he isn't sure exactly what transpired but remembers being "In the presence of Mary."
Mark and his wife would receive the 'good news' that they would be blessed with their first child not too long after their wedding, and Mark converted to Catholicism as he had promised our Blessed Mother that day in Mexico at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This would "solidify" his decision to become Catholic."
Mark would eventually become a Catholic Church deacon, something he had no interest in pursuing. Before his conversion, he had gone to an Episcopal seminary and studied to become a priest, so it was somewhat familiar territory upon entering Catholic ministry.
He joked and said that his wife and colleague decided for him. Mark recalled asking them whether "I have a say in this decision?" He received a clear no and said, "it's a happy wife, happy life, type of thing.
Mark is one of many converts to Catholicism, which he attributes to the struggles in the liturgical Protestant world—Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians, to name a few. Mark said part of the reason for this is because "we do not have a leader at the top who says yes or no, and the Catholics have a Pope, and he is the final authority, the office of the Pope, which allows for more solid ground to operate, and to worship…and that, with everything that’s been going on in the Protestant world is a blessing to a lot of us." His diocese is part of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
U.S. Secret Service
Around this time, Mark began to work for the Secret Service of the United States. The (USSS) is one of the nation's oldest federal investigative law enforcement agencies and was founded in 1865 as a branch of the U.S. Treasury Department. As it states on its official website:
The Secret Service performs two critical homeland security missions:
Through its protective mission, the Secret Service preserves continuity of government and ensures security at events of national significance by protecting the President and Vice President, their families, visiting heads-of-state/government, and other designated individuals.
In addition, the USSS also investigates threats against the White House, the Vice President's Residence, Foreign Missions, and other designated buildings within the Washington, D.C. area, so it is no wonder that these fine men and women who risk their lives to protect so many have a chaplain on call.
Mark Arbeen's second 'call,' if you will, is to work as the Chaplain Program Manager to the United States Secret Service. The idea for a program arose in 2013 2014 when the USSS began to have significant issues in the press. Moral was down, and a chaplain program seemed like a way to restore things.
Mark was solicited by the agent who was assigned to the task of researching a possible program. He said, at first. "I didn't want to have anything to do with it" but would help "in the "background." When the agent unexpectedly dies, Mark recalls serving at the woman's funeral, and the director of the USS approaches him, saying, "Father." Mark responds to him and says, "I am a deacon, and I am one of you." The director eventually hires Mark, and he begins working toward instituting this well-needed program.
The task took work, especially for new programs within any Department of Homeland Security agency. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was the only agency with a program like this, which meant they would be unique with the FBI.
While one does not have to be of any particular denomination or religion, it did work advantageously that Mark was Catholic because about 60 percent of the United States Secret Service is Catholic. But Mark said, "Understanding hierarchy with the other faith groups" is essential. He continued, "Being a former Episcopal, I understood that hierarchy, and being Catholic, I understand hierarchy."
A Day in the Life of the Chaplain Manager to the USSS
It's common for Mark to work and talk with the cardinals, archbishops, the chief rabbi of the United States, and other religious leaders. "It's a bigger role than people thought, "said Mark because he deals with leaders who decide to let one of their ministers become one of the USSS chaplains.
His main job is to manage volunteer chaplains in the United States. He currently has 140 employees, comprising all faiths, about 62, and both genders. He also has a portion who are atheists. But Mark emphasized what is essential is to be able to speak with them "on their terms, not on mine."
Mark noted that his Catholic religion has helped him "because the Catholic faith, especially since Vatican II, is about dialogue." He continued, "And having the ability to dialogue with other faith groups without trying to convert either one of them…[and] understanding where our commonalities are and focusing on that, and not on our differences, that is huge in the Catholic Church, and that's what every one of our bishops, archbishops, the cardinals and the Pope, they have to do this, and that's what I have to do in this job."
He also spoke of the need to receive the Blessed Sacrament, especially at busy times, like, for example, during the meeting of the General Assembly in New York City.
He said that a good percentage of the staff do request Communion on that Sunday, those who are unable to get to Mass, so around 25 to 30 hosts will be distributed to employees who are on the frontlines doing what they are called to do, protect the lives those they are assigned to. Some, however, can attend service.
It is no wonder that the Chaplain Program was implemented. The men and women who risk their lives to ensure the safety of others and their families are under tremendous stress. Mark said they have a "zero failure mission" and "if someone makes a mistake, [and] somebody dies, we can't have that."
Welcome, Saint Michael!
I asked Deacon Mark if he invokes Saint Michael and the archangels' role in the program. He again referred to the diversity of the people he works with and how Saint Michael is revered by not only the Catholics but also the Jews and Muslims. Saint Michael is the Patron Saint of Law Enforcement, which is unsurprising.
Mark said that he feels Saint Michael's presence "every day," but "it is not a pat on the back; I feel his sword on my back, pushing me," that pressure to do more. But he also feels comfort from Saint Michael when standing before a family who just lost somebody." He says Saint Michael's "wings cover."
What he loves most about his role is helping someone through a difficult period in their life. We say in law enforcement chaplaincy, "Our job is to be present to the people when they need us, not when we want to provide it." He said he would never equate himself to a law enforcement agent because "I run to them, but they run into the bullets, and that's a bravery that's sorely misunderstood." My agents will stand in front of the president of the United States of America and take a bullet for them. "It's a bravery that can't be taught."
We concluded the interview, and Deacon Arbeen said, "We have to recognize that Jesus redeems us, and we have to recognize the need for Jesus in the Sacrament and recognize the need for Jesus in our lives."
The archangels, gifts of God
