Chaplain Sykes is currently serving with the Australian military headquarters in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). In this role, he provides religious and spiritual welfare support to ADF deployed throughout the Middle East, including Iraq, the Gulf States and Afghanistan. With such a large geographical responsibility, he is assisted by a team of five military chaplains to undertake his ministry.
ADF personnel are deployed in the Middle East and Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER, focussing on security and mentoring, reconstruction and capacity building.
In addition to his duty as a Catholic priest, Chaplain Sykes is responsible to the Chaplaincy Branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to provide religious and spiritual support to members, counselling, feedback on morale, a listening ear to those in trouble, involvement in welfare and to conduct memorial services.
Fr Paddy Sykes, right, is currently serving with the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan.
Chaplain Sykes said he enjoys his role because it has a lot of variety and gives him the chance to exercise his priestly ministry amongst mostly young people who would otherwise not have exposure to chaplains.
“I enjoy the camaraderie that you build up with people when you work closely with them, as happens in the ADF,” he said.
“My job is one of the best kept secrets of ministry for any of the mainstream religious denominations in Australia.”
According to Chaplain Sykes, his job allows him to reach out to many people but do so in a way which respects people’s privacy.
“The work of the chaplain is very subtle and often goes unnoticed — as it should be,” said Chaplain Sykes.
“It is the best PR job in the ADF as it requires us to be constantly about with the men and women and their families with which we work.”
A regular day for Chaplain Sykes will include time spent in prayer, completing administration, attending meetings, keeping in contact with family and friends — as well as spending time with ADF personnel on base. He also joins physical training classes.
In relation to his expansive task of overseeing ministry of the Australian personnel in the Middle East, Chaplain Sykes said one of the greatest challenges is being a Navy Chaplain in a tri-service environment.
“This posting has allowed me to appreciate the work and expertise of the other two services,” Chaplain Sykes said.
He said that he found his job with the deployed troops professionally and personally satisfying on many levels.
A chaplain in the RAN for more than a decade, Chaplain Sykes joined the RAN at the request from Bishop William Brennan, who loaned him to the Catholic Bishop to the Forces, Bishop Max Davis for an initial period of six years. Bishop Gerard Hanna, the Bishop of Wagga Wagga has supported the needs of the ADF by allowing Chaplain Sykes an additional six years with the Navy.
Chaplain Sykes has had the opportunity to serve on HMA Ships and on land. Some of his postings have included visits to the Solomon Islands, Christmas Island, Singapore, the Maldives, New Zealand, Goa and Fiji.
On Chaplain Sykes’ return to Australia from the MEAO, he will spend time with family in NSW, including his father who still lives on the farm he grew up on. He will take up a new posting at HMAS KUTTABUL in Sydney next year.
Together Magazine, Wagga Wagga
