For Msgr. Karl Anthony Chimiak, priesthood has always been about presence – being there in moments of joy, sorrow and uncertainty. Whether ministering to parishioners, serving as an Air Force chaplain or offering comfort to military personnel deploying to and returning from war zones, as well as police officers in the community, Msgr. Chimiak’s vocation has been one of unwavering dedication.
Msgr. Chimiak’s journey to the priesthood began at an early age.
“When I was a little boy, I was an altar server,” he said. “Good priests planted the seed for priesthood.”
He shared how he would “play priest” at home, using whatever he could find to reenact sacred rituals.
While in college, he worked as a camp counselor at a Boy Scout camp in Goshen, Virginia. A homily by Father Fournier that summer planted a seed that later grew into a firm conviction. Though Msgr. Chimiak had not yet decided on the priesthood, he remembers that moment as a turning point.
“It changed my life, but I didn’t know it at the time. It got me thinking about God again,” he said.
Years later, after graduating from college and working as a salesman, he returned to his faith.
“I had been away from the Church for a while,” he admitted. “I went to Mass, and a priest was preaching about vocations. He challenged all the young men in the parish: ‘What are you going to do with your life? We need priests.’”
Those words resonated with him, setting him on a new path. With encouragement from his family, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
During his time at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Msgr. Chimiak was introduced to the idea of serving as a military chaplain.
“They had a vocation day, and the Chaplain Candidate Program came from the Air Force,” he recalled. “They asked, ‘Who would like to be a chaplain candidate?’”
That opportunity led him to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, entering as a second lieutenant at Travis Air Force Base in 1977.
“I was there right after Vietnam,” he said. “And then through seminary, I was a chaplain candidate. When I was ordained in 1980 after graduating from seminary, I was commissioned as a first lieutenant chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, where I served for 26 years at various bases in the United States.”
Msgr. Chimiak was mobilized for Operation Desert Storm, serving with the 33rd Fighter Wing ‘Nomads’ at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. His wing saw action during the war, and he received the Meritorious Service Medal for his wartime service in 1991.
For Msgr. Chimiak, his time in military service reinforced a guiding principle: “You are a priest first,” he said. “You can’t become a career man in the military. You have to be a priest in the Air Force, above all.”
During Operation Desert Storm, Msgr. Chimiak worked closely with security police squadrons, accompanying them on patrols and ministering to their families. One of the most meaningful moments of his career came when enlisted airmen presented him with a small plaque.
“It had a security police badge on it with the words inscribed: ‘You’re one of us.’ That meant more to me than any award – knowing that I really did make an impact on them,” he said.
Throughout his career, Msgr. Chimiak provided spiritual guidance in some of the most challenging situations. One of his most difficult assignments was counseling wounded Iraq War veterans.
“I worked with returning Iraq War casualties – guys who were disabled, victims of IEDs or landmines, who had their legs shot off,” he said. “I administered to them on C-130 aircraft as they lay on gurneys. Just bringing a little consolation, peace and blessing them was very impactful.”
His role extended beyond the battlefield. Before missions, he would offer confessions, walking with servicemen through the hangars.
“Catholics, non-Catholics, even atheists – they all wanted a blessing. And every pilot I met, I gave a St. Michael medal. When they returned, they’d tell me, ‘Father, I still have it.’”
As a priest and chaplain, one of Msgr. Chimiak’s most important roles was ministering to those mourning the loss of a loved one to suicide. He described the emotional difficulty of supporting families in these moments.
“What do you say to a mother, a wife, a husband who has had a loved one take their life?” he said. “You say nothing. It’s called the ministry of presence. If I were to highlight what I do best, it’s being silent – being there for them and listening.”
Through experience, he has learned that sometimes the most meaningful moments come in the absence of words.
“Months, maybe years later, they’ll come back and say, ‘Thank you for being there.’ That’s God rewarding you,”he said. “It lets you know that just by being present, you might have prevented them from doing something drastic.”
He credits his ability to navigate these emotional situations to his spiritual directors – priests who had endured their own hardships.
“I always sought priests who had been there and done that. Their wisdom got me through difficult times.”
Msgr. Chimiak credits his parents for instilling in him the values of faith, service, and sacrifice. His mother, Wanda Chimiak, a trained opera singer, gave up a promising career to raise her family, while his father, Walter Chimiak, a Naval officer, worked tirelessly to support them. “They sacrificed so much so that my siblings and I could have a strong foundation in faith and education,” he said. “Their example of selflessness shaped me more than they ever knew.”
During his 45 years of priesthood, Msgr. Chimiak held a wide range of roles. His service as a chaplain extended beyond the military – he served the Maryland State Police for over 25 years, along with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department and St. Mary’s County Detention Center.
Until his retirement in 2023, he served as pastor and parochial vicar at multiple churches in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, including St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Seat Pleasant; St. Matthias Apostle Parish in Lanham; St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Silver Spring; St. Michael Parish in Ridge; Holy Ghost Parish in Issue; Sacred Heart Parish in La Plata; St. George Parish in Valley Lee; and St. Joseph Parish in Beltsville. He also served as the dean of St. Mary's County for two terms and Charles County for one term.
Msgr. Chimiak was chaplain to a variety of organizations, including the St. John Vianney Interfaith Food Pantry, Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, the Boy Scouts, and the Knights of Columbus.
In January 2025, Mount St. Mary’s University inducted Msgr. Chimiak into its Academic Circle of Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame. “When I got the call, I immediately asked, ‘Are you sure you have the right Karl?’” he laughed. “I was an average C student. But Msgr. Andrew Baker, the seminary rector, told me, ‘It’s about what you’ve done in your ministry.’”
Above all, he emphasized that his most treasured title remains “Father.”
“It’s the most rewarding.”
For him, it all comes back to being present.
“Whether it’s baptizing a child, giving last rites, walking with police officers or working with disabled veterans, my role has always been to be there. It’s the simple ministry of presence.”
When asked what guiding principle shaped his vocation, Msgr. Chimiak pointed to selflessness, a value he learned from his parents. He described prayer as central to his spiritual life.
“Without prayer, a priest withers and dies like the barren fig tree.”
For those considering a vocation to the priesthood, Msgr. Chimiak offered direct advice.
“You have to be willing to be the servant of all,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
He also reflected on moments in his ministry that stood out.
“The greatest joy is when someone says, ‘Thank you for helping me come back to the Church,’” he said. “Whether it’s on their deathbed or a prodigal son or daughter returning after years away, that’s when I know I’ve fulfilled my role.”
Even in retirement, Msgr. Chimiak continues to serve his community. He is priest in residence at St. John Vianney Parish in Prince Frederick, Maryland, and assists at other parishes throughout Southern Maryland. He also ministers to members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, offering spiritual support and guidance.
His commitment to service remains steadfast, reflecting his lifelong dedication to the priesthood.
When asked how he would like to be remembered, Msgr. Chimiak said, “I just want to be remembered as a holy priest. That’s it. I don’t need to be remembered for anything else.”
