August 1, 2010. After a year in the making, 1,000 MP3 players are being sent to Catholic troops and wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. But these aren't just any MP3 players.



They come preloaded with seven hours of Catholic content. Soldiers can listen to a “Warrior Rosary,” a Memorial Day Mass, or a presentation made by the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

The Frontline Faith Project is leading the distribution effort to tide soldiers over between chaplain and priest visits to battle zones.

Other programs included in the portable devices are children's letters to soldiers, stories about faith in military life, homilies and music.

The military archdiocese will distribute the MP3 players through its 281 chaplains and priests. But this can take time because their visits can be infrequent.

It costs $24 to buy and ship the MP3  players. So far enough money has been raised for 1,000 players.

There are 330,000 Catholics in the military and the long-term goal is for each member to receive a MP3 player.

IS
Rick Patrick
AM
GdP
-BN