ALAMOSA -- The Rev. Carl Andrews, retired Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Colorado, will celebrate Eucharist at a special Easter Sunday service at the Bridge, 3407 Carroll St., Alamosa, 11 a.m. April 1.

Andrews, a United States Air Force Chaplain, Colonel, and now retired Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Colorado, served in Vietnam, where he was called to be a priest, then a military chaplain.  His career includes time in Australia; Alaska; the Philippines, where he lead humanitarian efforts following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo; at the Pentagon during the attacks of 9-11 and ultimately serving as Command Chaplain for all USAF personal in Europe. Today, as retired, he is pleased to live out his personal motto of “serving others in ministry where the rubber meets the road.” His personal interests and passions are mentoring chaplains, working with Post-Traumatic Stress and brain-injured patients, teaching young people, sharing the Gospel and fly fishing.

Born March 5, 1948, to the late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Joseph and Kathleen Agnes Andrews, his early life was strongly influenced by the multiple countries and locations he lived as a military child, including a period attending an English boarding school. He graduated from Central High School, London, England, and from Colorado State University, Colorado, with a bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation in 1970, and following in the footsteps of his American father who flew Spitfires for the British during World War II, Andrews was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and trained as a Weapons Officer. His first duty station was Phan Rang, Vietnam, with follow-ons to Da Nang, Vietnam and Takhli, Thailand.  During his time in Vietnam, Carl wrestled with the vocation to priesthood; upon ordination in 1977, he returned to Colorado as a curate to St Timothy’s, Littleton, and then to the Western Slope of Colorado as a mission priest.

During his five years in Craig, Andrews responded to a call to become an active duty US Air Force chaplain. His assignments have included Colorado, Thailand, Montana, Australia, the Republic of the Philippines, California, Illinois, the Pentagon, Germany, and Texas. Like most service members, he spent short tours in Turkey, France, Spain, Iceland, the Azores, Bosnia, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Holland, and Belgium.

The zenith of Andrews’ military ministry was his assignment to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as Command Chaplain to all USAF personnel serving in Europe. While assigned at Ramstein he also served as an intensive care chaplain at Landstuhl Hospital, ministering to wounded returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. A personal high point of Andrews’ Air Force career occurred during his last assignment as senior chaplain, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas. In this capacity, Carl authored the Air Force’s Spiritual Fitness program for over 5,000 Basic Military Training recruits attending chapel each weekend, providing them a spiritual foundation and ensuring the program’s fourth “tie-down of spirituality.” 

Lynne, Andrews’ wife of 45 years, will accompany him to Sunday’s service. All are welcome at the service. There will be no Easter service at St. Thomas Church this year.