IACAC Media Officer – Page 2 – IACAC | International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains

01/05/202326/06/2024

Research Project

General characteristics of airport chaplaincy

Researcher’s Introduction

My name is Jilke Veldman and I am a student at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht. I am writing my MA thesis on airport chaplaincy.

The topic of my research is the motivation to become a chaplain at an (international) airport and the ways airport chaplains conduct their work, including how they contact people in need, both travellers and airport personnel, on and around airports, and the support or counselling they provide. This research will provide insight into the use and different forms of presence by airport chaplains.

Your participation is requested because of your experience as an airport chaplain and the support or counselling you provide to people at the airport, both passengers and airport personnel, to see in which way presence is used by airport chaplains.

20/04/202326/06/2024

News from our chaplaincies

It was with great sadness we received the news of the passing of Henri Dammane in Nice. Henri has been a long time member of IACAC and attended many conferences where he and Denise formed life long frirndships with chaplains from around the world. He served as President from 2007 to 2009 and hosted the 2008 annual conference in Nice. Henri was a devout christian and was laid to rest following a Requiem Mass at Saint-Joseph church in Saint-Laurent-du-Var on Monday March 27. Flowers were laid in the name of ICHTUS and IACAC. Our prayers and sympathy were extend to his daughter, Dominique and her family. May Henri rest in peace and rise in glory.

Condolences

Our prayers and sympathy are also extended to the Rev Romeo Dabee from JFK, New York, who sadly lost his mother over Easter. Her funeral service was held on the 15^th April and our prayers were with Romeo at that time. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

20/04/202326/06/2024

President’s letter April 2023

April 2023

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I can’t believe how fast time is going by. Maybe it’s because I am older and I certainly want to make every moment count.

I guess, you, like us in Melbourne seem to be getting busier and busier as the airline industry reconnects the world.

One of the things I am finding that is causing stress amongst staff is the language being used around the Pandemic. For example, how busy we are in passenger numbers is always being measured against pre pandemic numbers. What I am finding is this is causing stress to staff especially new staff who have no idea what the airport was like pre pandemic.

17/12/202226/06/2024

President’s Letter December 2022

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

What a year we have experienced as the industry that we support has continued to bounce back from one of the most devastating periods in its history.

Here in Melbourne flights are full both domestically and internationally and there is a crazy buzz around the place.

One of the things I have been trying to practise in amongst this craziness is finding a few moments several times through the day just to pause, contemplate and listen. To still my spirit from all of the rush, noise and often confusion people have as they move around the airport.

As we celebrate Christmas, especially in the West, it can be a crazy, busy, noisy time as we fit in all of the celebrations, the festivities, parties, church services, money raising and giving a helping hand to those who will be doing it tough, that we find it hard to stop, to be still, to contemplate.

17/12/202226/06/2024

News from our chaplaincies

USA: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Ruth Agrusa from wrote to say. “I want to let you know that we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the MKE Airport Meditation Room at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the USA. Time has really flown by quickly. We are hosting an open house event on November 15, 2022 in the room from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. There will be refreshments and gifts for those who attend. Wish you could come and join us.

The room continues to be a place for reflection and prayer. We still hope to have chaplaincy there some time in the future. That is not possible now but we still hope. The guests that come, have left many wonderful comments that they appreciate having the room and had a good experience there. We are so happy that we can provide the space for them”.