Deployment to the North Atlantic

Although the Rev. Canon Lt. (N) Greg McMullin has been a Navy Reserves chaplain for 20 years, it was just this spring that he had the chance of a deployment.

“At the end of February, I was offered the opportunity to be the chaplain for an operation aboard HMCS Montréal,” he said.

Operation REASSURANCE - EX Formidable Shield 2025 took place from April 22-June 5 in the North Atlantic in northern Norway and the Hebrides of Scotland. Usual military deployments are for six months, but this one was a six-week operation.

The NATO exercise involved 16 ships, 25 aircraft, and 10 nations: Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the UK, France, the U.S. and Canada.

The HMCS Montréal left Halifax with 214 aboard headed for Bodø, Norway. That journey took 10 days. Back home, the Rev. Peter Mills, formerly a priest in the diocese, and the Rev. Ann Fairweather took care of the congregation at St. Mary & St. Bartholomew in Saint John.

The purpose of the six-week deployment was to test the strength of naval defense systems, specifically three Sea Sparrow Block 2 missiles.

“Our primary testing involved major missiles carried by Canadian equipment,” said Greg. “It was a big deal. It took at least a year to two years to prepare. It’s probably the most significant weaponry on our ships. Without tests, we don’t know how they’ll operate.”

The tests were deemed successful.

CHAPLAINCY
A military chaplain’s role is to hold religious services and be a support for both the commanding officer and the crew. On this deployment, the crew was still grieving the loss of one of their own in a training incident in Halifax harbour in January, so his presence was a comfort.

Greg held daily services and offered a compressed Alpha course he called Exploring Faith. Six sailors joined him.
He took the opportunity to tour the Lutheran cathedral in Bodø, toured some of the NATO ships, and met with another chaplain, Judith Vogel, from the Netherlands.

He also led a special service to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic, a six-year naval battle, the longest in the Second World War, which began the day after war was declared. Its purpose was to block Nazi Germany from hunting and sinking Allied ships and merchant vessels bringing soldiers and supplies from North America to Europe, particularly the UK. 

Greg’s service was held May 8, fittingly the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Norway.

“We had the service on the flight deck on a beautiful, sunny day with the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and fjords,” said Greg. “That was a highlight.”

After the operation, the ship moved on to Cardiff, Wales for a five-day port of call. There, Greg participated in a remembrance service for veterans of the Merchant Naval Service.

“I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy,” he said.

Another, special event took place that was unexpected. The wreck of the HMCS Trentonian, a Canadian Flower class corvette, was discovered by a diver and the ship’s bell recovered.    

“[The wreck] was only discovered two weeks after we left Halifax,” said Greg. “We had a service and I officiated. We got to repatriate the ship’s bell to the Halifax Naval Museum.”

HMCS Trentonian was sunk Feb. 22, 1945 by a German U-boat near Falmouth in the UK with the loss of six lives.

AFTERMATH
“A lot happened in six weeks,” said Greg. “It was high intensity and history-making. And hopefully it’s an experience that would make me a better priest.

“It was the ministry opportunity of a lifetime and the experience of a lifetime. It really left me with a sense that we’re not alone. We’re part of a world-wide friendship. You knew you were part of something big.

“There is a contingency of allies that are pretty tight. We have a really good defense mechanism in place.”

The final event for Greg took place the day after they returned to Halifax. 

“The icing on the cake for me, personally, was a member of the ship’s company wanted me to baptize his daughter on the ship,” he said. “So on June 7 we held a service of baptism for his two- year-old girl. We used the ship’s bell as the font, which is a Navy tradition.”

Greg has since given a presentation to his congregation on where he was and what took place during those six weeks away.

“I was honoured to make the presentation out of gratitude for their support of my deployment,” he said.

Years ago, Greg had no military background, and joined the Reserves for a specific reason.

“I just thought it would be an opportunity to provide ministry beyond the church walls,” he said.
He is chaplain to HMCS Brunswicker in Saint John. 

Photo captions:
1.     HMCS Montréal, along with other NATO naval vessels, practice maneuvering and formation keeping during EX FORMIDABLE SHIELD, as part of OP REASSURANCE, in the Atlantic Ocean on 7 May 2025. 

2.    Onboard members of HMCS Montréal’s Ship’s Company, including Greg, seen here, conduct a Remembrance Service for HMCS Trentonian while transporting its recently recovered bell to Halifax during OP REASSURANCE on 28 May 2025. 

3.    Greg during the Battle of the Atlantic service, held May 8, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Norway.
 
4.    HMCS Montréal tied up in Bodø, Norway. 

Photo credit: Corporal Morgan LeBlanc, Canadian Armed Forces