About MCAS Cherry Point Chapel · Havelock Station, North Carolina
The MCAS Cherry Point Chapel — also known as St. Michael's Chapel and officially listed as 'Marine Corps Air Station Chapel-Cherry Point' by the Diocese of Raleigh — is the Catholic worship community serving active-duty Marines, Sailors, family members, and (when available) retired military personnel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina. Housed in Building 100 on E Street next to the base post office, the chapel offers Sunday and weekday Masses, the sacraments, RCIA and CCD religious education, marriage preparation, Catholic choir, and pastoral counseling that is privileged and confidential. The Catholic program is staffed by a Navy chaplain priest, supported by Protestant chaplains and chaplain's assistants, and operates in close coordination with the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Chaplain. The chapel is one of several Catholic installations under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh's Military Outreach ministry, listed in the New Bern Deanery.
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel (the chapel is also known as St. Michael's Chapel / Community Chapel)
- Rector
- Father Ignatius E. Madumere, OP (Catholic Priest/Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh (New Bern Deanery — Military Outreach)
Why belong here
The MCAS Cherry Point Chapel is the spiritual home for Catholic Marines, Sailors, families, and retirees at the air station — a community where Mass is offered on Sundays and weekdays, sacraments are available on request, and every conversation with a chaplain is fully confidential. It welcomes you into a full Catholic life: RCIA for adults entering the Church, CCD classes for children from pre-K through high school, a Catholic choir, marriage preparation and enrichment, and outreach programs like the Thanksgiving Food Basket and Angel Tree. Because it is a military chapel, it also understands the rhythm of deployment, PCS moves, and family life — making it a place where the faith is practiced in step with the service.
Mass times at MCAS Cherry Point Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation by appointment — contact the Chapel Office at (252) 466-4000
About the Station Chapel
The Station Chapel at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is the hub of religious life on the base. Its mission is to serve active-duty service members, their family members, and — when available — retired military personnel through timely and professional pastoral care, delivered in close coordination with the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Chaplain. The chapel is home to both Catholic and Protestant congregations, with the Catholic community centered on Sunday and weekday Masses celebrated by the Catholic priest/chaplain.
- Serves active duty, family members, and (when available) retired military
- Operates in coordination with the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Chaplain
- Also called St. Michael's Chapel / Memorial Chapel
Worship Schedule (Catholic)
The Catholic community gathers in the Main Chapel for Sunday Mass and on three weekdays for Daily Mass, with an additional First Friday Mass each month. Reconciliation is offered by appointment through the Chapel Office. Protestant worship includes a Liturgical Service on Sunday mornings in the Fellowship Chapel.
- Sunday Mass — 9:00 a.m. in the Main Chapel
- Daily Mass — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:45 a.m.
- First Friday of the month — 11:45 a.m.
- Reconciliation — by appointment, call (252) 466-4000
- Liturgical Protestant Service — Sunday 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Chapel
- Contemporary Protestant Worship — Sunday 11:00 a.m. in the Main Chapel
Chapel Staff
The chapel is staffed by a mixed team of military chaplains, a Catholic priest, chaplain's assistants, and a civilian secretary. The Catholic priest/chaplain provides the sacramental life of the Catholic community and serves as pastor of the Catholic congregation aboard Cherry Point.
- LCDR Daniel Bruno — Command Chaplain
- LTJG Jared Bowling — Deputy Chaplain
- Father Ignatius Madumere — Catholic Priest (Dominican, OP)
- RP2 Katlin Williams — Chaplain Assistant
- Jennifer Perdue — Secretary
Catholic Priest — Father Ignatius Madumere, OP
Father Ignatius E. Madumere is a Dominican priest of the Province of St. Joseph the Worker of Nigeria & Ghana, ordained in 1987 in his native Nigeria. He studied in Rome for three years, completed a Master's at the Institute of Marriage and Family at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, and later earned a Doctorate in Moral Theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He previously served in the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA, and is now the Catholic priest/chaplain at MCAS Cherry Point, where he serves active-duty Marines and Sailors and their families as pastor of the Catholic community. He is a U.S. citizen and also serves as a retreat speaker, confessor, and spiritual director with IAAM (Affirming the Dignity of Mankind).
- Native of Nigeria; ordained Dominican priest 1987
- Doctorate in Moral Theology — Duquesne University
- Previously served Diocese of Harrisburg, PA
- Pastor of the Catholic community aboard Cherry Point
Sacraments
The Catholic chaplain offers the full range of Catholic sacraments to authorized personnel and their families. Couples and individuals should contact the Chapel Office to schedule preparation and celebration. Reconciliation is by appointment.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Marriage / Holy Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession) — by appointment
- Holy Communion (including First Communion via CCD)
- Child dedications (Protestant program)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education is offered for every age and stage, in coordination with Catholic Charities or diocesan support. The Catholic Religious Education program runs from September through May at The Meeting Place on base.
- Catholic RCIA Classes — for adults entering the Church
- Catholic CCD Classes — Pre-Kindergarten through High School (September–May), held at The Meeting Place
Music & Liturgical Ministry
The Catholic community maintains a parish choir that supports Sunday and liturgical celebrations throughout the year.
- Catholic Choir — rehearses weekly, sings at liturgical celebrations
Marriage & Family Life
Recognizing the rhythm of military family life, the chapel offers both required marriage preparation and ongoing enrichment opportunities for couples and families at The Meeting Place on Fourth Avenue.
- Monthly Pre-Marriage Seminar
- Marriage Enrichment classes
- Family and pastoral counseling
Outreach & Charity
The Catholic community partners with the wider base community on seasonal charity drives that support military families and local neighbors in need around the holidays.
- Thanksgiving Food Basket Program
- Angel Tree Outreach (holiday gift program)
Devotions & Special Events
In addition to the regular Mass schedule, the chapel hosts special devotional events that connect the Catholic community with the wider life of the Church.
- Annual Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4) — family pets and Marine Corps working dogs blessed outside the chapel
- Pastoral counseling available year-round (privileged/confidential)
Visit, Contact & Pastoral Counseling
Pastoral conversations with a chaplain are fully confidential under the privileged communication afforded to military chaplains — anyone — service member, spouse, or family member — may speak with a chaplain about any issue. For after-hours emergencies, the Chaplain Duty Line and Command Duty Officer are available 24/7.
- Main Line: (252) 466-4000
- Fax: (252) 466-4002
- Email: [email protected]
- Chaplain Duty Line (after hours): (252) 229-7248
- Command Duty Officer: (252) 466-5236
- Administrative Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Fri & Sun 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Diocese & Military Outreach
The chapel is officially listed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh as 'Marine Corps Air Station Chapel-Cherry Point,' in the New Bern Deanery. Through the Diocese of Raleigh's Military Outreach ministry it is connected to the Catholic communities at other North Carolina installations, including Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, Pope AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB, and New River Air Station — a network that helps military Catholics keep their sacramental and parish life continuous across PCS moves.
- Listed by the Diocese of Raleigh as a parish (New Bern Deanery)
- Part of the Diocese of Raleigh's Military Outreach ministry
- Connected to Catholic communities at Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, and other NC installations