Between Heaven and Earth - Chaplain's Blog

Divine Windows

Friday, 09 April 2010 23:48

Since I became the Catholic chaplain for John F. Kennedy International Airport, I have had the opportunity to watch and serve many travelers, employees and visitors who were ending up in our corner of the Terminal 4. Some people were nicely surprised that there is a chapel at JFK at all. Some others, who came back to JFK after quite a few years, have been asking about the former Chapel built right outside our terminal, where can you see parking lot in these days. Not everybody knows how unique it is to have not one but four chapels for various religious groups and denominations. At most airports all you can see is one multi-religious room with all sorts of artifacts. Yet, once in a while I come across somebody who is searching for something “in between” our chapels, such as an universal meditation room or a chapel for a specific religious group.

I have noticed, that Our Lady of the Skies Chapel unofficially has become a chapel for our Orthodox brothers and sisters. I am very happy about it and I welcome all of them. I can’t give you exact number of such people, employees, travelers and other visitors, who are crossing the threshold of our Chapel in order to pray and worship the One who defeated death, however I believe it is enough for us to welcome them in our Chapel more appropriately. That is why I decided to purchase two icons: the Resurrection and famous Trinity by Andrei Rublev. If more will be needed or appropriate (particularly during special feasts and seasons), we will do our best to equip our Chapel with these divine windows. We will soon mail Orthodox churches in our area informing their communities about this initiative in order to meet their needs as they are travelling or visiting JFK.

I hope that even in this Easter season I will be extending to many Orthodox brothers and sisters our best greetings by saying Christos Anesti - Alithos Anesti! (Greek: Christ is risen - He is truly risen!) at our Chapel.

The real "Terminal"

Chaplain's Blog

Friday, 05 March 2010 23:04

Do you have a feeling that you are living at the airport? Well, some people do. Apparently, at times the police, TSA and other security agencies are picking up somebody who actually does live at the airport, including JFK. For quite some time now, many employees at JFK are seeing a young gentleman, who has become a very familiar face around here. His name is James and he wants to go to Australia to play basketball there. He doesn't have money, nor visa (he claims he has a passport) yet he wants to make it to the big A-island. Since he has become usual around here, he has been fed by many employees, who even gave him money to go to Denver, CO where lives his mother. He apparently prefers the warm weather of Australia than the cold winter in Denver... I hope that he makes it anywhere before the police scoops him up. He is very nice and polite; however I think that he realizes how serious his situation gets with every single day passing by. The only one beautiful thing about it is the generosity of JFK employees; they have really shown their great heart and helped him tremendously. It is really great to be in a place where (despite what everybody else might be thinking) much love and compassion can be found...

The sign of love and compassion

Chaplain's Blog

Thursday, 04 March 2010 21:09

Today, I had a privilege to say a memorial service for Giovanni Quigley (1947-2010). This service has been requested by Delta employees. I was told, that although Giovanni died in Florida, his New York colleagues would like to honor him in a special way. I thought that maybe 15-20 people would show up for that service. To my complete surprise I found so many people coming (including Giovanni's family members) that our Chapel was way too small to accommodate everyone! People were standing right outside the glass wall and doors and listened to what was said. Many people cried and were very emotional. Giovanni's picture showed him as a very happy and contagiously-happy person. No wonder it was truly a magnificent manifest to his life, love, dedication and friendship. In a sense it was truly beautiful to see how people in a workplace transform others. Giovanni was a great example of such a charisma. Our Book of Prayers and Intentions (located in the Chapel) was truly enriched by numerous wonderful words about Giovanni.

God bless Giovanni's family and friends and give him eternal reward.

Giovanni's Tribute Page

Presidents' Day

Chaplain's Blog

Monday, 15 February 2010 21:23

Today is Presidents' Day. The nation is having a day off (or not). That is why I showed up at the airport on the official first day of my new assignment as the Catholic chaplain of JFK. What a coincidence: Fr. Gerard Walker who just retired from this position, has left me an envelope on the top of my desk. Sounds familiar? Well, yeah - presidents do exactly the same. So, what was in the message? Can't tell you. It was for eyes only; let's call it "Chaplains' Secret". By the way, our office isn't oval at all.