French soldiers observe Easter Sunday at a French-language mass held at the Dining Facility in the French living area on Fort Hood, Texas, April 4, 2021. Nearly 1000 French Soldiers are currently in residence at Fort Hood to support Warfighter 2104, the largest Warfighter Exercise ever held on the installation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke)

Capt. Raymond Akirewe, a chaplain with 1st Cavalry Division, uses an aspergillum to bless assembled French soldiers during a French-language Easter mass at Fort Hood, Texas, April 4, 2021. The implement dates to ancient times and is used to disperse holy water on the congregation at the start of major liturgies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke)

Capt. Raymond Akirewe, a chaplain with 1st Cavalry Division, poses outside the French Living Area at Fort Hood, Texas, April 4, 2021. Akirewe, an ordained Catholic priest, hails from Ghana, a francophone nation in west Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke)

French Soldiers join together in prayer during a French-language Easter mass at Fort Hood, Texas, April 4, 2021. The date of Easter changes every year, falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke)

Soldiers from the French Third Armored Division were able to celebrate Easter in their native tongue thanks to the efforts of an American Chaplain on April 4, 2021, here at Fort Hood.

“I know what it means to be in a foreign land,” said the chaplain conducting the service, U.S. Army Capt. Raymond Akirewe, a chaplain with the American 1st Cavalry Division.

Akirewe is an ordained Catholic priest and a fluent French speaker who joined the Army in 2016. Ghanian in origin, Akirewe now calls Zionsville Indiana home.

“We are more comfortable talking to God in our own language and having a relationship with God in our own language,” said Akirewe

Akirewe said he was struck with the idea of holding a French-language Mass after witnessing individual French soldiers walk across Fort Hood to filter in to his regular services.

“I noticed they had to walk a long distance to come to the chapel,” said Akirewe. “So that got me thinking.”

“This could be an opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, especially at Easter in their own language, in their own home in their own backyard,” said Akirewe. “My brigade and the rest of the Chaplain Corps jumped right on board after I brought it up.”

Starting at 11 a.m., around 150 French Soldiers attended the service held at the French living area. The service was initially intended to be held in the open air but, due to rain, was moved into a French temporary dining facility.

The brief service lasted an hour and communion was administered to those in attendance. Around 1000 French Soldiers of the French 3rd Armored Division are currently on Fort Hood to attend Warfighter 21-4, a multinational exercise conducted with the collaboration of the U.S., the United Kingdom and France.

Akirewe, who has served as a missionary in the past, said that the day was very special to him for a number of reasons.

“I do know that I have a special role to play because a healthy mind, and healthy heart are closely related to our faith. So a healthy faith brings resilience for our soldiers,” said Akirewe.