Prayer books donated to submarine base

Groton— A Catholic priest who provides services to the Catholic community at the Naval Submarine Base gave the chaplain’s office at the base 12 donated prayer books for the lay leaders serving on submarines.

“This will provide the lay leaders with the materials to be able to pray in union with the entire Catholic community on Sundays during their deployments,” said Rev. Tom Hoar, who celebrates Catholic Mass on Sundays and holy days at the submarine base.

The Father Murphy Council of the Knights of Columbus of Mystic gave the books to Hoar. Lay leaders on board a submarine provide religious services, in the absence of a chaplain, for their particular faith group.

“This gift is a wonderful demonstration of giving and speaks to the strong bonds between our Navy and local community,” said Lt. Shaun Kennedy, Naval Submarine Support Center New London. “It also demonstrates their ongoing support for the spiritual lives and needs of the submariners during their deployments.”