By Joseph Sapia|Correspondent

Father Patrick McPartland has been a soldier of God for five years, having been ordained a priest in May 2008.

Now, Father McPartland, whose parochial vicar assignment in St. Joseph Church, Toms River, ended June 30, is becoming a sailor.

He is being loaned by the Diocese of Trenton for six years to the Archdiocese of the Military Services to be a Navy chaplain. With his new assignment, he has the rank of lieutenant junior grade in the Navy.

Thinking of the men and women in the military whose faith he is sent to nurture, Father McPartland, 39,  reflected, “I would just ask people to pray that I, and the other chaplains,  can invite them (military personnel) to a closer relationship with the Lord. That’s the great part of this opportunity.”

Between leaving St. Joseph Parish and reporting for Navy officer training Aug. 18 in Newport, R.I., Father McPartland is to spend his time on retreat and vacation. Five weeks later, he will head to the Army’s Fort Jackson in South Carolina for chaplain school. Then, in November, he is to report to his chaplain assignment.

Informally, Father McPartland has been told he is to report to the America, an amphibious assault ship to be commissioned next year and based in San Diego. He expects this specific assignment will last 24 to 30 months.

As a Navy chaplain, Father McPartland is to perform typical priestly duties – celebrating Mass, administering the sacraments, counseling and taking part in ministries – to sailors, Marines and their families.

Several months ago, Father McPartland asked Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., if he would loan someone to the Military Services. “Yes,” Bishop O’Connell said, “You, Father McPartland.”

Father McPartland prayed over it, bringing him to where he is – on the brink of a new chapter in his priestly life.

In his youth, Father McPartland acknowledged he thought about applying to the Air Force Academy. Instead, he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

But his father was in the Navy, as was his paternal grandfather. Also, Father McPartland worked as a Lockheed Martin engineer in Burlington County on the Navy’s Aegis Combat System.

“You can see all these (Navy) points,” Father McPartland said.

St. Joseph Parish was his first assignment as a priest – a delayed route to the priesthood after working as an engineer for eight years while a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly.

“I was doing youth ministry and the call [to the priesthood] kind of came from that,” he said.

Sacred Heart Deacon Jim Casa suggested he become a priest, Father McPartland recalled. “He said the Holy Spirit told him to say that to me,” he added.

Now, Father McPartland is on a new journey. Does he have his sea legs?

“I’m not worried about big ships,” Father McPartland said. “(But) I’ve been a little woozy on little boats.”

Still, this is a priest who is not afraid to take unconventional forms of transportation. He not only has a car, but a motorcycle, as well.

“I ride with the Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry,” he shared.

Father McPartland also plays guitar and calls himself a “metal head” in terms of music taste.

In light of it all, he emphasizes, “I remain a priest of the Diocese of Trenton, but I’m on loan to the Archdiocese for Military Services. I don’t want to lose connection to the Diocese (of Trenton).”

Father McPartland said he expects to be back in his home diocese in six years.