About Barksdale Air Force Base Chapel · Bossier City, Louisiana
Holy Family Catholic Community is the Roman Catholic congregation serving Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. It operates as a component of the Barksdale Chaplain Corps, commanded by the 2nd Bomb Wing, and is canonically endorsed and sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The community provides the full range of Catholic pastoral ministries and spiritual services to active-duty Airmen, their families, retirees, and base civilian personnel, celebrating Mass in two on-base chapels and supporting religious education, the sacraments, and a robust calendar of parish life.
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Why belong here
Holy Family Catholic Community is a welcoming military chapel parish where active-duty Airmen, their families, retirees, and base employees can practice the Catholic faith together regardless of where the military sends them. The community offers the full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and marriage preparation — alongside a busy calendar of faith formation, RCIA, choir, hospitality, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women of the Chapel, Bible studies, and monthly fellowship socials, all on base and tightly connected to the rhythms of military life.
Mass times at Barksdale Air Force Base Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:10–8:45 AM, Chapel 1
- Before daily Mass (Tuesday–Friday) or by appointment
- By appointment through the Chapel Office
About Holy Family Catholic Community
Holy Family Catholic Community is the Roman Catholic congregation serving Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. It is a component of the Barksdale Chaplain Corps, commanded by the 2nd Bomb Wing, and is canonically endorsed and sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The community's mission is to provide the full range of Catholic pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces and their families stationed at Barksdale. Its vision is to be 'ennobled wingmen' who guide, educate, and offer direction with the fullness of the Christian faith, while providing comfort and strength to the military as they reflect upon the responsibilities and challenges of protecting their fellow Americans.
- Provides full Catholic pastoral ministries and spiritual services to U.S. Armed Forces members and their families at Barksdale AFB
- Component of the Barksdale Chaplain Corps, commanded by the 2nd Bomb Wing
- Sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
- Priorities include relevant engagement with Airmen, their families, and the base community; resourcing chapel and other leadership to accomplish the mission; and ensuring Catholic identity and presence under constitutional rights and freedoms
Sacraments
Holy Family Catholic Community celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Reconciliation. Sacramental emergencies after duty hours are handled through the Barksdale Command Post.
- Anointing of the Sick — by request during duty hours; sacramental emergencies after hours via Command Post (318-456-2151)
- Baptism — by appointment; parents must be registered and take a baptismal class first
- First Communion / Confirmation / OCIA — contact Religious Education Coordinator Terry Goel (318-456-8845 or 318-393-3114)
- Marriage — six-month notice required; couples must complete a marriage preparation course
- Reconciliation — Sundays and Fridays before Mass, or by appointment, in the Blessed Sacrament Room in Chapel 1
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes are offered for preschool through adult level, meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM (September–May) in the Chapel 2 Annex. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA / OCIA) for those discerning becoming Catholic, and Confirmation preparation for both youth and adults. Adult Bible Study and a Retiree Bible Study supplement ongoing formation for older members.
- Religious Education (Pre-K through adult) — Sundays 10:30 AM, Chapel 2 Annex (Sep–May)
- RCIA / OCIA — Tuesdays 6:00–8:00 PM, Chapel 2 Annex (Sep–Apr)
- Confirmation preparation for youth and adults
- Retiree Bible Study — Mondays 1:00 PM, Chapel 2 Annex (Sep–Apr)
- Adult Faith Formation contact: Dan & Adrienne Brigham, (318) 286-0303
- Catholic RE Coordinator: Terry Goel, (318) 456-8845 or (318) 393-3114
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The community runs a wide range of lay ministries supporting liturgy, formation, fellowship, and outreach. Most Masses draw on lay lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, servers of the altar, and a Sunday choir. Hospitality and fellowship are anchored in the Ministry of Hospitality and the Knights of Columbus. Catholic Women of the Chapel and a Catholic Homeschool Family group extend fellowship and formation to specific demographics within the base community.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Allen Schaefer
- Catholic Women of the Chapel
- Catholic Homeschool Family fellowship
- Ministry of Hospitality (fellowships)
- Servers of the Altar (schedulers: David Lay and Sally Robinson)
- Choirs and musicians — Sunday Choir POC: Beth Prest, (318) 949-1596
- Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist
- Social/Fellowship — Barb Schleben, (318) 934-2472
Catholic Advisory Council
A Catholic Advisory Council provides lay governance and representation across the community's major constituencies — active-duty Airmen, active-duty dependents, and retirees — working alongside the chaplains and chapel staff.
- President: Ryan Wilson
- Vice President: Daniel Brigham
- Active Duty Representative: Ace Cabigas
- Active Duty Representative: Jonathan Newman
- Active Duty Dependent: Maile O'Leary
- Retiree Representative: Ron Schroeder
Outreach & Charity
Beyond the chapel walls, the community supports several outreach efforts. Mary's House collects small knit or crocheted blankets for new mothers. Operation Give combines a monthly breakfast with a hands-on volunteer opportunity. The Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women of the Chapel carry out additional works of charity on and around the base. The parish is also always seeking volunteer catechists for Pre-K, Confirmation, OCIA, and assistants for all grade levels of religious education.
- Mary's House — small knit/crochet blankets for new moms (POC: Jeannette Lay)
- Operation Give Breakfast — 1st Saturday of the month, 9:00 AM, Chapel 2 Annex, followed by volunteering
- Fellowship Social set-up/clean-up/host teams — 1st Sundays (POC: Barbara Schleben)
- Catechist and assistant recruitment — POC: Terry Goel
Counseling & Spiritual Care
The chaplains of Barksdale Chapel provide 100% confidential individual, family, and marriage counseling to all Airmen, family members, and authorized personnel. Counseling appointments can be made through the Chapel Office at (318) 456-2111. As ordained Catholic clergy, the chaplains also perform baptisms, dedications, weddings, and other rites and sacraments in accordance with Catholic Church rules and guidelines.
- Individual, family, and marriage counseling — 100% confidential
- Appointments via Chapel Office: (318) 456-2111
- Sacramental and ritual services performed by ordained Catholic chaplains