JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington. –
The Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Chapel is bustling as the holidays approach, hosting events to bring cheer in the upcoming season and sharing with the JBAB community their overall mission.
“We want people to know more about who we are,” said Capt. Wesley Sneed, 11
th Wing chaplain. “We love to serve, and we’re a part of the readiness and resiliency of the base.”
The Chapel Center offers online and in-person Catholic masses and Community Protestant services on Sundays. As of Nov. 13, in-person services are open to anyone living on base. Seating capacity is limited, and CDC guidelines are followed. The chapel staff continues to assess restrictions and safety on a weekly basis.
The Chaplaincy’s mission is to take care of service members and their families, to meet moral and spiritual needs, and to protect the freedom of religion however people choose to practice.
By January, there will be four chaplains and four enlisted chapel assistants available to carry out this mission. The chapel staff can assist with a broad spectrum of needs, including stress reduction and meditation, suicide prevention, relationship and family support, financial guidance, and even providing meals. Counseling is 100% confidential. Walk-in hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and a chaplain is available 24/7.
“Everyone’s needs are different, and we are here to help and care in ways that no one else can,” Sneed said.
Not only does the chapel serve the base community, but they also partner with local organizations to serve the community outside the JBAB fence line.
During this season of giving, the chapel staff, volunteers and His Helping Hands Ministry distributed 100 Thanksgiving baskets and turkeys to the local community. The congregation also collected and assembled 30 gift boxes for Samaritan’s Purse International, and delivered gifts to 20 children on base through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Most recently, the chapel staff packaged and distributed cookies to service members in the dorms and throughout the wing.
The holidays can be joyous and wonderful, but they can also feel lonely and isolated, especially amidst a pandemic. If you or someone you know needs counseling, spiritual guidance, or lifting up, reach out to the JBAB Chapel.
“Keep the hope,” Sneed said. “Someone always cares about you, and if you don’t think you have someone, call me.”
Holiday Services:
Dec. 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Confession
Dec. 24, 7 p.m. – Candle Light service, online only
Dec. 25, 9 a.m. – Christmas mass
Dec. 27, 10 a.m. – Community Protestant service, online only
Jan. 1, 9 a.m. – New Year’s mass
Weekly Services:
Sunday, 9 a.m. – Catholic mass, in-person*
Sunday, 10 a.m. – Community Protestant service, online
Sunday, 11 a.m. – Community Protestant service, in-person*
*At this time, in-person services are open to base residents only; limited seating; masks required
Walk-in hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For more details about events and services, call 202-767-5900 or visit the
JBAB Chapel Facebook page.