Fr. James Devine

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of former IACAC President 1993-1999) Fr. James Devine (88), a longtime JFK Chaplain at Our Lady of the Skies and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Fr. Devine was born on May 13, 1934, ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1960, and died on November 1, 2022. He was appointed the full-time Chaplain to Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at John F. Kennedy International Airport in October of 1988. Father Devine loved to work with his fellow Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim chaplains.

Father Devine was at the airport when Pan Am Flight 103 crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland, and was immediately sent to console the families of the victims waiting in the Pan Am lounge. He was also at the Travel Lodge Hotel to help family members of victims on TWA Flight 800.

In 1995, Father Devine was appointed one of the first Port Authority Police Chaplains. He encountered yet another episode of tragedy during the September 11 attacks of 2001.

“We lost at least eight policemen from JFK and many more from the Port Authority,” Fr. Devine said. “I did many of the funerals for those lost during the attacks because I personally knew them.”

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 on October 22, 2023, to October 27, 2023.

Our theme will be, “Embracing God in Airport Chaplaincy.”

Our conference speakers will be Rabbi Mark Shook, Professor Shima Rostami, ­­­­­­­­­­­Fr. Thomas McDermott OP, and Fr. Adrian.
We anticipate the cost to be $1000. We are excited and looking forward to serving the IACAC in 2023.

Deacon Jim Martin, President Emeritus
Rev Rodrick Burton, President

President’s Letter | September 2022

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

What a tremendous 3 years we’ve got through!
Yes, these 3 years as President of the IACAC (and 4 before that as Vice-President including to as Host chaplain) will remain in my heart as a very memorable time and the honor of my life!

Just a few weeks after I took office, after the Melbourne Conference in October 2019, the COVID19 pandemic started and soon became a global crisis. Lockdowns were enforced on the population of most countries; air traffic collapsed, which forced the aviation industry to shut down most of its activities and airports, closed most of their terminals. Many of us were confined in our homes for several weeks and sometimes months. During all that time my question was “what can I do for our members and fellow airport chaplains?” With the Board as well as the involvement of several members from different parts of the world we organized various online sessions to share our experiences, hope and fears as well as, for the first time, an online conference. Through these means we kept in touch and even got closer to one another and develop our network reaching to some of you who don’t usually have the opportunity to attend our annual conferences. I also tried to give to this monthly letter a reflective and pastoral tone, which, I hope, has brought some support to those who needed it.

Continue reading “President’s Letter | September 2022”

IACAC London Conference

19th-23rd September
Conference Theme: “Learning From Adversity – Equipped for a Post Covid Industry

Registrations are still open for online participation in the conference. Do join us online if you are unable to attend in person. The conference program is available online.

Online Attendance – $50US
All registrations and payments should be made through the IACAC website.

Have you or your team used technology in an innovative way during the past couple of years? One of the conference sessions is a time for sharing what has been collectively learnt and how we can benefit from innovation elsewhere.
It would be very helpful to hear from any chaplaincy on how they responded. A short paragraph sent to Steve Buckeridge about the need it met, how it has been effective and any other learning would be great.

IACAC Board Elections

At the 2022 Annual Business meeting to be held in London this September, elections will take place for a new Media Officer. Nominations for the position of Media Officer have been received from Mr Alan Benstock, Manchester and Fr Fabrizio Martello, Milan Linate. Only members who have paid their 2022 membership will be eligible to vote. Proxy voting will be available for any financial member who is unable to attend the conference but wishes to cast their vote.

Details of how to apply for a proxy vote are available from the Secretary.

Nominations were received at the Nairobi Annual Business for the position of President from Mr Martyn Scrimshaw, Melbourne, and for Vice President, from Canon Liz Hughes, London Luton.
As only one nomination was received for each of these positions those nominated are elected unopposed to take office at the end of the London Conference.

President – Mr Martyn Scrimshaw, Melbourne
Vice President – Canon Liz Hughes, London Luton.

Nominations will be received at the September Business Meeting for the position of Treasurer for election at the 2023 Annual Business Meeting. Our present Treasurer, Rev Romeo Dabee, is not seeking reelection.
Please think and pray for someone to nominate for this position.
Perhaps you could be that person.