Mexican American War chaplains

The first to serve

I thank Archbishop Broglio of Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA for his recent letter reminding me of the first two Catholic chaplains, both Jesuits, who served during the Mexican American War (1846-1848): John McElroy, S.J., pictured above, and Anthony Rey, S.J.

The Enniskillen, Ireland-born McElroy (b. 1782) may be better known for the founding of Boston College—the college began originally as a school to educate poor Irish emigrants. “At the height of the Famine, as hundreds of thousands of destitute Irish poured into the city, the Reverend John McElroy braved massive anti-Irish sentiment and a vicious anti-Catholic backlash and made plans to open the school for children of the Famine immigrants. He finally succeeded in 1863.”¹

He came to America in 1803 and entered Georgetown College, and the Jesuit novitiate, in 1806. He managed the school’s finances for a number of years before his ordination in 1817. His first assignment as a priest was Holy Trinity Church at Georgetown. Five years later he was sent to St. John the Evangelist in Frederick, Maryland where he served as pastor until called to the military chaplaincy to serve the spiritual needs of the many Irish Catholic immigrants who joined the Army at the onset of the Mexican American War.

Father McElroy and Father Rey were selected by New York Archbishop John Hughes and appointed by President James Polk in 1846. They both joined General Zachary Taylor’s army at Matamoros, Mexico on the 5th of July.

Chaplain McElroy was age 64 at the time. For the duration, he remained at the camp ministering to the wounded, saying Mass, and hearing Confessions.

After the war, he settled in Boston where he hatched his plans, and carried them out, for Jesuit education.

Father McElroy died in 1877, age 95, in Frederick, Maryland and his mortal remains are buried in the cemetery of St. John the Evangelist Church.

Sadly, Father Rey’s life was much shorter, dying at age 39, murdered by robbers. Born in France in 1807, he entered the novitiate at Fribourg at age 20, and taught there until 1840 when he was sent to America to teach at Georgetown, later becoming vice president of the college.

While in the chaplaincy “he ministered to the wounded and dying at the siege of Monterrey; after the capture of the city, he remained with the army at Monterrey and learned Spanish in order to preach to the rancheros of the neighborhood. Against the advice of the U.S. officers, he set out for Matamoros, preaching to a congregation of Americans and Mexicans at Ceralvo. It is conjectured that he was killed by a band of robbers, as his body was discovered, pierced with lances, a few days later.”²

As the Archdiocese for Military Services proclaims:

The vocation of a military chaplain is a unique calling. He offers spiritual solace and guidance to soldiers, providing prayers and comfort in the midst of battle. He embodies the fusion of faith and valor, bringing God’s blessings to those who defend and protect.

Fathers McElroy and Rey are early and excellent examples of that special calling. May they rest in peace.

1. irishcentral.com

2. De Courcy, Henry. Catholic Church in the United States, T.W. Strong, 1856