October 7, 2026

By Mary Beth Bracy,
consecrated virgin
North Country Catholic

This is our third story in the “Heritage and Heroes,” a series featuring the stained-glass windows at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg depicting American history and interviews with faithful veterans or active-duty military who serve God and country.

Father Patrick A. Ratigan may be retired, but he spent a long time on “active duty” and comes from a long line of those who have selflessly served.

“There is a strong family tradition of military service,” Father Ratigan, who currently resides in Hannawa Falls, shared. “My mother’s two brothers served in World War II. One of them, my Uncle Warren, served in the Philippines and was captured by the Japanese. He survived the Bataan Death March and died of malaria a few months later. I have visited his grave in the Manila Military Cemetery. My mother’s other brother, Uncle Bill, was a navigator on the B-26 bomber and he was shot down over Italy. They were able to limp back and crash landed in friendly territory.”

“My Father and his two brothers also served in World War II. Three of my brothers also served: Jimmy in the Navy, Mike in the Army, and Tommy, who was severely wounded in Vietnam. So I had a lot of examples that inspired me to serve. In fact, I had to get my parents’ permission to join the Army right out of high school at the age of 17. I found myself barely 18 years old serving on the DMZ (demilitarized zone) in Korea.”

Then, one calling opened the door for another.

“Towards the end of my three-year enlistment, I discerned a possible priestly vocation and entered the seminary,” he said. “I was serving very happily in the diocese (of Ogdensburg) after my 1983 ordination, but I guess there was still an itch to return to military service, this time as a chaplain. Bishop (Stanislaus J.) Brzana, who himself served as a chaplain in World War II, granted permission in 1988 for me to serve as an Army Chaplain, and so my service began anew.”

Father Ratigan said his time as a chaplain had a profound impact on him.

“People have described a military chaplaincy as being two vocations: one to the priesthood and then a second vocation to the military,” he said. “That seems to be an accurate description. As I was organizing my thoughts for this interview, it struck me that my most impactful moments were while deployed. I guess while stateside in garrison things are pretty normal, in a lot of ways similar to parish life, except that you wear the uniform and have broad access to everyone everywhere. Deployments and field maneuvers are where chaplains are most impactful. We are unique in their ministry of presence. We accompany soldiers everywhere and endure all the same hardships. I kind of guesstimated that I have slept on a cot, either under the sky or in a tent, for a combined total of more than four years during my service. I also guesstimated that I used my field Mass kit to celebrate Mass over 2,000 times. They call it ‘ministry of presence’ and you sure are present with your soldiers as you go with them everywhere and as you share their life and endure the same difficulties.”

Over the years, Father Ratigan has traveled to many unforgettable places.

“It is interesting that this month’s article is featuring the cathedral window that depicts Saint Damien,” he said. “While I was serving with the 25th Infantry Division, I had an opportunity to organize a pilgrimage to Molokai where Saint Damien ministered. We walked in his footsteps and I celebrated Mass in his original chapel. We were also fortunate to spend time with some of the remaining residents there. Since they had a modern treatment for Hansen’s disease, no new residents enter the colony, but those who were already there were given a choice to leave or remain. That trip certainly had an impact on me because I got an unforgettable sense of what it must have been like for Father Damien to exile himself to the island so that he could minister to the residents there.”

He also had unforgettable encounters with faith and the soldiers.

“While I was stationed for a year in Egypt, I had an opportunity to lead a monthly overnight pilgrimage to Mount Sinai,” Father Ratigan said. “We hiked to the top and spent the night under the stars so we could wake up early to experience the sunrise, and then journey down to visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery, where Moses encountered the burning bush. I was inspired as I watched the soldiers have this experience. During that time, I also served as a spiritual director on brief monthly trips to the Holy Land where I was encouraged by the soldiers’ faith, and yearning to learn more about their faith and live it, and sometimes watch their spiritual lives be rekindled.”

In April 2003, Father Ratigan had another remarkable experience.

“I celebrated Easter Mass in one of Saddam’s bombed palaces in Baghdad, quite literally on the shore of the of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referenced in the Old Testament,” he said. “We renewed our baptismal promises with water taken right out of the river. That moment didn’t really strike me as that meaningful until later reflection, and it has now become a strong memory.”

The faith of the soldiers was uplifting despite difficult circumstances.

“Another memorable thought is how much trouble some of the soldiers would go to in order to get to Mass and receive Holy Communion while deployed. For example, I remember while we were in Baghdad and Fallujah that an armored unit would drive their M1 Abrams tanks across the terrain to where I was for Mass. They didn’t just hop in their car and go down the street. They truly hungered for the Eucharist and really put their lives on the line to receive it. I have a strong memory of regularly blessing soldiers as they went out on mission, and then having the unhappy honor of conducting their memorial service. In April 2003 I did that for three of my friends and unit members who died during the Thunder Run into Baghdad.”

Father Ratigan also took inspiration from a particular saint.

“Saint Ignatius of Loyola has been a particular model for me and his Suscipe prayer was on my ordination prayer card. Saint Ignatius was both a soldier and a priest so I had that connection and felt an additional connection because he founded the Jesuits who taught my theology in the seminary. I always felt a strong connection with Saint Ignatius. A fun fact is that I name my dogs Ignatius (and they go by Iggy), so I am reminded constantly about my patron saint!”