| Dear Friends and Colleagues I firstly want to acknowledge the work of our colleagues in St Louis as they prepare for our conference in October. Now is the time to book as we gather to learn and share together. We have also had the Board meet with our colleagues in Frankfurt and plans are well advanced for the conference in 2024. As yet we don’t have an offer for 2025 so if you are interested in hosting please let us know. We are open as costs increase to consider an online conference in 2025 and then a face to face in 2026. Please let us know your thoughts. I don’t know about you, but we certainly seem to be operating in a very different environment. Lots of new staff and passengers who seem to have very different expectations from a time that seems to have long disappeared. It is bringing with it pressure and I am seeing staff that are tired and breaking down. Recent weeks I have had the opportunity to take part in a training session with our Airport Police. I have facilitated discussion around Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Moral Injury. I have made myself vulnerable by telling my story and it has led to some amazing discussion with members and a recognition that we are each responsible for our self care. The blessing from this is the deepening of relationships as we work together around rough sleepers and those presenting with mental health issues. I was reminded this week in my own devotions about Matthew 25 and the fact that what we do each day, often going unnoticed, we are actually doing for God and he sees what we do for the least. I pray for each of you that you may find rest when needed, a chance to recharge and that your chaplaincy may seem to be taken for granted but it does have a huge impact. Take care my friends, book now for St Louis and I look forward to the chance to see as many as possible face to face. Shalom Martyn |
IACAC CONFERENCE 2023
We, the St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy (STAIC), wish to invite the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains IACAC to St. Louis, for the 2023 Annual Conference
October 23, 2023, to October 27, 2023.
Our theme will be: “Embracing God in Airport Chaplaincy.”
Our conference speakers will be Rabbi Mark Shook, Fr. Thomas McDermott OP, and Fr. Adrian.
Cost: $800 USD single room $600 USD Twin Share per person
There will be no post conference tour this year.
We hope you are planning to join us in St Louis. We are excited and looking forward to serving the IACAC in 2023.
Deacon Jim Martin, President Emeritus Rev Rodrick Burton, President
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.
I think we should be thinking that pre pandemic was an era. Then we had the pandemic which wiped out most of our industry for a long time and now we are in a new age, with new staff, new travel expectations from our passengers and so we need to create a new dynamic era based on what is today and into the future.Maybe we can be the catalyst for this discussion and help our industry see a new future as the world reconnects.
I did mean to write this prior to Easter and so I want to acknowledge the celebrations and remembrance many have shared from different faiths through Passover, Easter both Orthodox and Christian and for our Muslim friends, Ramadan. I have taken the time myself to do a real fast from food for twenty one days and not only did I feel detoxed and better but I was able to spend quality time in spiritual reflection and prayer. It has become a special time which I plan on repeating two or three times through the year.
To each of you I want you to know you are valued and we celebrate the amazing privilege we have to serve our airport communities across the globe.
Ramadan Mubarak
Eternal God of all the generations, we welcome this festival of freedom with joyful hearts. We have assembled together seeking Your presence. As You redeemed our ancestors from the slavery of Egypt and led them to the land of their inheritance, so have You been our Redeemer and Protector throughout the centuries.
And may you know the peace and joy of our risen Lord.
Bless you all
Martyn
President IACAC
Melbourne Airport
Annual Conference 2023 Bookings now open
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Please see below a letter of welcome from the team at St Louis.
A great week has been planned and I would encourage as many as possible to attend in person.
Book early to take advantage of the early bird fee using this link:
https://iacac2023.eventbrite.com
See you in St Louis.
Martyn
IACAC President
June 2023
Greetings Members & Friends of the IACAC all around the world:
We, the St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy and the St. Louis Lambert International Airport team relish the opportunity to host the IACAC’s 2023 annual meeting.
We anticipate an intellectually stimulating line up of greet speakers such as Rabbi Mark Shook (Critical Incident Management), Fr Tom McDermott (Charity), Fr Adrian Burke (Hospitality)
We will tour the St Louis Lambert Airport and visit some of the best sites St. Louis has to offer while enjoying accommodations at Drury Inn St. Louis Airport, 10900 Natural Bridge Rd., St. Louis, MO 63134.
Please save the date for October 23, 2023 – October 27, 2023 and we will meet you in St. Louis!
Warmest Regards,
Rev. Rodrick Burton
St. Louis Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy President.
NEWS FROM OUR CHAPLAINCIES
* Brothers and sisters:
It is with great sadness I inform you that Deacon Ben Wenning of St Gabriel Parish in Charlotte recently passed away.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Deacon Ben was married to the love of his life, Dorothy (Dot) Wenning, for 66 years. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and his people.
He served in the US Navy and belonged to the volunteer fire departments when living in New Jersey and Virginia. He and Dot moved to Charlotte and Deacon Ben was second in charge of air traffic controllers at Charlotte Douglas Airport. He was ordained as a permanent deacon in the diocese in 1988 and was the first deacon assigned to Airport Chaplaincy at the Charlotte Airport. He also served as Director of Deacons for the diocese. At St Gabriel Parish he taught RCIA, worked in Marriage Encounter and served many other ministries over the years – truly a “deacon’s deacon.” A mentor and kind friend to many. Deacon Ben loved his family dearly and leaves behind many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Please keep Dot and all the family in your prayers for consolation and peace.
* Recently the Prayer Room at Munich Airport has has added a “Book of Concerns” for visitors to add comments and prayer requests. The Rev Christine Stöhr, has been greatly touched by the beautiful thoughts and prayers that have been written into the book.
* A display along the transit corridor at Paris Orly Airport features an innovative visual device that showcases ancient statues dressed in today’s fashions. It is titled the “Hipsters in Stone “ Exhibition and has been attracting much attraction from passing passengers.
*Recently we have fielded two enquiries for new chaplaincies to commence. One in Rwanda and the other in Memphis US.
Early discussions with chaplaincy providers and airports are taking place with support from the IACAC.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
The payment of the annual membership for the IACAC is now due. The membership financial year is from the 1st January to the 31st December. Payments made at the annual conference are usually for the next year and should be made in American Dollars. Please go to our website www.iacac.aero and follow the links to make your payment. The 2023 annual membership subscription for Active membersis $50 and $30 for Associate members.