Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

People on the Move

N° 105 (Suppl.), December 2007

Biennal Report

UNITED STATES National Conference of

Catholic Airport Chaplains

Rev. Michael ZANIOLO

President

July 2005 - Airport Chaplain Certification Training Course

Eight chaplains and chaplaincy team members from around the country attended a five-day training course at O'Hare Airport. This course is a requirement for receiving the professional title of "Certified Airport Chaplain" (CAC).

The training syllabus included:

- Morning Prayer in the Chapel

- Daily Mass

- Presentations:

   - Chaplaincy Organization and Fund Raising

   - Ministerial Ethics

   - O’Hare Outreach–Haymarket House (homeless assistance)

   - U.S. Customs and Border Protection

   - U.S. Department of Public Health

   - U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife

   - Airlines on their needs for the chapel

   - Traveler’s Aide (working together for the traveler)

   - Table Top Disaster Drill

   - Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

- Visits:

   - Air Marshall Service and Training Facility

   - Chicago Fire Department at the three Fire Houses at O’Hare (including the burn pit training facility)

    - I.D. Badging Department

    - Communications and 911 Emergency Center at O’Hare

   - Air Traffic Control Tower and a presentation on Airside Operations

   - Cargo facilities

   - Airport Maintenance Complex to view the equipment and workings of the heavy machinery that keeps the runways and roadways safe

April 2006 - Annual Meeting, Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, Mundelein, IL

Thirty five chaplains and chaplaincy team members attended the Annual Meeting. A two-hour business meeting was conducted to vote upon some amendments to the constitution and decide to hold our 2007 meeting concurrently with the XIII World Seminar at Vatican City. Three chaplains successfully completed the requirements for Certification. They were formally conferred the title of Certified Airport Chaplain on April 25.

Francis Cardinal George, the NCCAC Episcopal liaison attended and celebrated Mass.

The non-business portion of the meeting was in the form of a four-day retreat given by Fr. Louis Cameli, STD, focusing upon the spirituality of an airport chaplain.

Deacon Peter Broussard, Chaplain at Albuquerque Airport, has provided his synopsis of the retreat. It is attached at the end of this report. 

May 2006 - European Airport Chaplains Meeting, Wroclaw Poland

Frs. Jamnicky and Zaniolo attended the European Airport Chaplains Meeting. The discussions included reorganization of the European conference into a form similar to the NCCAC.

October 2006 - NCCAC Website, www.nccac.us is launched. The site is still under construction and will be fully operational by Summer 2007. Email address: office@nccac.us

January 2007 - Fr. Zaniolo served as a resource for the Archdiocese of Atlanta as they prepare to offer Mass on a regular basis. Fr. Zaniolo also served as a resource for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as they prepare to establish an airport chaplaincy. Their plan is to assign a full-time priest as chaplain and offer Mass on a regular basis.

July 2007 - Airport chaplain certification(CAC) training course will be offered at O'Hare Airport