NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Zematis and Command Chaplain Lt. Israel Alvarado marked the beginning of Spiritual Readiness Month Jan. 5 with a proclamation signing noting the importance of spiritual readiness on personnel.
“Spiritual readiness is the inner strength from a higher purpose; it is about maintaining that sense of purpose, that inner strength, and resilience,” said Alvarado. “Just as we feed our body, we also nurture our beliefs, values, and connections that sustain us during challenging times.”
The Navy marks recognizes spiritual readiness month every January and encourages its personnel to exercise the month’s four components:
- Connection: Connection to the divine
- Community: Participation in a community of faith or shared belief
- Sacrifice: Sacrifice for the greater good
- Meaning: The pursuit of meaning, purpose, value, and service
The NAS Pax River Religious Ministry Team (RMT) has numerous resources to support spiritual growth, including chaplain services, faith-based programs, a series of events to promote spiritual readiness, and even a January calendar of daily spiritual practices.