About Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community · Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community is the Roman Catholic worship community that serves the soldiers, families, and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Bragg (redesignated Fort Liberty in 2023), home of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Special Operations Command in North Carolina. The community gathers across several on-post chapels — most centrally Pope Chapel, All American Chapel, JFK Memorial Chapel, and Womack Army Medical Center Chapel — providing daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation, and ministry to one of the largest Catholic military populations in the United States. Pastored by active-duty U.S. Army Catholic chaplains and listed in the Diocese of Raleigh's parish directory, it is endorsed and supported by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
- Patron
- Saint Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Father Peter Pomposello (senior Catholic priest-chaplain, U.S. Army, rank of Major)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh (with pastoral coverage by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA)
Why belong here
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community is the spiritual home for thousands of Catholic soldiers, spouses, and children at one of the largest Army installations in the world. Daily and weekend Masses are offered across multiple on-post chapels — including a bilingual Spanish/English Mass — along with Reconciliation before every Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and adults, Catholic Youth Organization programs, and RCIA for those entering the Church. Whether you are active-duty, a family member, a retiree, or just passing through the Fayetteville area, the community welcomes you to worship, receive the sacraments, and grow in faith alongside the paratroopers and special operations community.
Mass times at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 40 minutes prior to every Mass
- By appointment (contact the Religious Support Office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 11:30 AM–12:00 PM — Pope Chapel
- Friday 12:30–3:00 PM — Pope Chapel
Identity & Patron
The community takes its name from Saint Michael the Archangel, the archangel venerated in Christian tradition as the defender of God's people against evil and the patron of warriors, police officers, paramedics, and — by extension — military service members. His feast day is September 29, observed together with the other two named archangels, Gabriel and Raphael. As the Catholic worship community of one of the largest U.S. Army installations in the world, the parish intentionally embraces Michael's role as heavenly protector of those in uniform.
- Patron: Saint Michael the Archangel
- Feast day: September 29
- Military patron: warriors, police, paramedics
Worship Locations on Post
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community gathers for Mass at several chapels spread across Fort Bragg (Fort Liberty). The principal Catholic site is Pope Chapel (Bldg #317) near Pope Army Airfield; additional Masses are offered at All American Chapel, Main Post Chapel, JFK Memorial Chapel, Wood Memorial Chapel, Division Memorial Chapel, and the Womack Army Medical Center Chapel. The Watters Center for Family Life and Religious Education (Bldg #1-3358 Knox Street) hosts Catholic education and faith formation programming.
- Pope Chapel — daily Mass and bilingual Sunday Mass
- All American Chapel — Saturday vigil and Sunday evening Mass
- Womack Army Medical Center Chapel — Sunday and Wednesday Mass
- Main Post Chapel — Sunday Mass
- JFK Memorial Chapel — Sunday Mass
- Wood Memorial Chapel — Sunday Mass
- Watters Center — Catholic education
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Catholic education for children and adults is coordinated through the Watters Center for Family Life and Religious Education on post. Programs follow the Army school year and include Sunday morning Faith Formation for school-age children, Adult Bible Study, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those discerning entry or return to the Catholic Church, and Theology on Tap for young adults.
- Catholic Sunday School / Faith Formation (K–8) — Sunday mornings during the school year, Bowley School
- Adult Bible Study — Sunday and Tuesday evenings
- RCIA — Thursday evenings at Pope Chapel
- Theology on Tap — monthly, various on-post locations
- Baptism Preparation Class (required for parents of children to be baptized at Fort Bragg)
Youth, Women & Family Ministries
The community supports parallel 'Women/Men/Youth of the Chapel' programs in the Catholic tradition, modeled on the broader Fort Bragg religious-support structure. Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) meets for fellowship, formation, and service, with childcare provided. Catholic Youth Organization activities gather middle- and high-schoolers for formation and fun.
- Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) — [email protected]
- Catholic Youth Organization / Youth of the Chapel — Sunday afternoons
- Family-friendly Masses with Children's Liturgy of the Word
Knights of Columbus Council 15250
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Community is the host parish of Knights of Columbus Council 15250 (District 6, Region 7, Division III). The council holds a planning meeting on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 PM and an officers' business meeting on the first Monday at 6:00 PM. Council contact is listed as Military Chaplain Edward Ohm and Chaplain Anthony Kazarnowicz.
- Council Number: 15250
- Council Name: St Michael the ArchAngel
- Planning Meeting: 3rd Monday, 6:00 PM
- Business Meeting: Officers — 1st Monday, 6:00 PM
Annual Blessing of the Pets
Each year around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (early October), the community gathers at Pope Chapel for the annual Blessing of the Pets. Dogs, cats, and other companion animals are individually sprinkled with holy water after a prayer of blessing. The tradition is led by a Catholic chaplain and has become one of the parish's most popular family-friendly events.
- Held annually in early October at Pope Chapel
- Commemorates St. Francis of Assisi, patron of animals and ecology
- Open to military families, retirees, and visitors with installation access
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Parents seeking infant baptism must complete a Baptism Preparation Class before the ceremony; older children enter through the regular Faith Formation track. Marriage preparation is coordinated with a Catholic chaplain well in advance of the proposed wedding date. RCIA meets for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism (with required preparation class)
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist (Faith Formation)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (with marriage preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations supported)
- RCIA
Clergy & Chaplaincy
Saint Michael the Archangel is pastored by active-duty Catholic priest-chaplains of the U.S. Army, supported by additional chaplains and deacons. Catholic chaplains serving on post are considered on loan from their home diocese or archdiocese (often the Archdiocese of New York or another sponsoring diocese) and serve under the endorsement of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
- Father Peter Pomposello — Senior Catholic Priest-Chaplain, U.S. Army, Major (Archdiocese of New York)
- Father Mike Metz — Catholic Priest-Chaplain, U.S. Army, Captain
- Military Chaplain Edward Ohm
- Chaplain Anthony Kazarnowicz
- Pastoral coverage: Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (Archbishop Timothy Broglio)
- Diocesan listing: Diocese of Raleigh
Visiting & Access
Because the community lives on a military installation, access to chapels and programs is subject to Fort Bragg (Fort Liberty) installation access rules. Active-duty service members, retirees, DoD civilians, and family members with a valid ID may attend freely; others should coordinate a visitor pass through the installation gate or contact the Religious Support Office ahead of time.
- Religious Support Office: (910) 396-1121 or (910) 643-4416
- After-duty/emergency chaplain: Installation Operation Center (910) 396-0371 or (910) 907-5301
- Watters Center: (910) 396-6564
- Mailing address: ATTN: Garrison Catholic Priest, 315 Ethridge St., Fort Bragg, NC 28307