“I am blessed,” Fr. Cricchio said during his retirement ceremony from the U.S. Navy.

Friar Santo P. Cricchio, a chaplain in the U.S. Navy, Navy retired on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, following 23 years of service as a Navy Chaplain. Two of Friar Santo’s fellow servicemen spoke, paying tribute to how his ministry as chaplain helped to add a greater depth to what service of our country really implies.

When asked for a quote, Friar Santo simply responded, “I’m blessed.” In his words to those in attendance, Friar Santo challenged the young service men and women and us all to recognize the power of all that we do and say, and the impact that these can have on all those we encounter. To Friar Santo, thank you for your dedicated, selfless service to our great nation. “Non sibi sed patriae” (Not self but country).

~ Written by Friar Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., who attended the ceremony at the Curtin-Garvey Complex, United States Marine Corp Reserve Center, in Brooklyn.