Sacred Space
Dear Editor: Every time people argue about the “Islamic Center” at Ground Zero, they call it “sacred space.” This is out of great respect for the people who died there and what the area represents to America. I agree it is a “sacred” place and must be respected. However, why is no one calling for there to be a real “Sacred Space” there for God Himself?
Why can’t the owners of Ground Zero include in its development four chapels – one for each major religion – in which people can actually enter and pray for the dead and for peace in the world? We have four such chapels at JFK Airport and many other airports around the nation. They take up very little room. Call them what you like: prayer rooms, meditation areas, chapels, synagogues, mosques, etc., but let each group have a place to pray inside Ground Zero.
What can be harmful about chapels? How sacred can a place be without God – especially for those of us who believe that He is present “...where two or three gather in His Name.”
Instead of taking sides against particular groups who had nothing to do with 9/11, why can’t we ask our leaders to really make it a “Sacred Space?”
Msgr. Ronald Marino
August 27, 2010
When plumes of volcanic ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano paralyzed flights across the globe in mid-April, locally stranded travelers found sanctuary at JFK International Airport. More about our efforts in the April 28, 2010 edition of The Tablet >>
When you fly somewhere, whether it’s for business or pleasure, there’s always a routine at the airport. You check in your luggage, maybe grab a bite to eat, head through security and then wait to get on board. How about taking some quiet time to pray? At JFK you can do that in a chapel with a unique name: Our Lady of the Skies. At the chapel’s annual luncheon yesterday in Howard Beach, Bishop DiMarzio was among three people honored for supporting Our Lady of the Skies’ ministry. Take a look HERE>>
You can watch the entire newscast below
January 15, 2007 edition of the BusinessWeek listed our Chapel, among flight simulator at Frankfurt, Germany (FRA), a pool at Singapore's Changi (SIN), a golf club at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH) and Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum at San Francisco (SFO) as one of the "five cures for terminal boredom". You can find the article HERE>>
