Chapel community gathers for food and fellowship at annual dinner

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  They came for fellowship and good food, and they got plenty of both.


More than 100 members of the Catholic and Protestant communities at Malmstrom gathered in the Chapel Annex Sunday for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Chaplain (Capt.) Jeromy Wells welcomed the chapel guests and led a prayer at the beginning of the event. He greeted the Protestants and Catholics and told them how grateful he was to be a part of the fellowship.

"Our Thanksgiving meal was a great opportunity for our Protestant and Catholic parishes to enjoy fellowship together," said Chaplain Wells. "It's just a reminder of all we have to be thankful for, such as our kids running around, the sacred gift of our families and a place to worship freely. It's just a wonderful gift of community."

Chaplain Wells said all of the parishes attended and were grateful for what all of our warriors are doing at Malmstrom, and pray weekly for all of those who are deployed.

Members of the Catholic and Protestant communities contributed a variety of cold salads, vegetables, casseroles, and other holiday side dishes. The dessert table was also filled with an assortment of cakes, cookies and homemade pies.

"It was a potluck event but the chapel provided six turkeys, fried chicken, and about 25 pounds of mash potatoes and gravy," said Janet Smith, Protestant religious education coordinator.

Many of the families present had either just attended the Catholic service, or were heading to the gospel service that started shortly after the event.

"Anytime we can bring people of faith together for anything to help strengthen and support each other it is wonderful," said Gary Gaudreau, Catholic coordinator at the chapel. "I had a really good time being able to take part in that fellowship."