On 18 May 2018 the Military Secretariat announced the appointment of Fr Michael Fava QHC, priest of the Diocese of Portsmouth, to be the next Deputy Chaplain-General to Her Majesty's Land Forces Army from November 2018. The role, in direct support of the Chaplain-General, is effectively that of Head of Army Chaplaincy Personnel, in the rank of Brigadier (or 'one star'). This selection is the first time that a Catholic Chaplain has reached such an appointment in any of the three Services.

Fr Michael was commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains Department in 1997 and has been deployed on Operational Tours in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and in Afghanistan where he was Joint Force Senior Chaplain. As well as home postings he has served in Cyprus, Germany and Northern Ireland and has recently returned from a duty visit to the Falkland Islands.

Fr Michael who was educated at the Salesian College, Farnborough was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen in August 2017. He is currently Administrator of the Bishopric of the Forces.

Photo and story from the Bishopric of the Forces