Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Deacon's Bench

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Staying Grounded in Faith: Where to Find Mass at the Airport

Staying Grounded in Faith: Where to Find Mass at the Airport

Last updated on: April 22, 2016 at 9:34 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Staying Grounded in Faith: Where to Find Mass at the Airport 2016-04-22T21:34:33-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’m spending more time in airports these days, and periodically I’ll see signs pointing the way to a chapel. More often than not, the “chapel” is a non-denominational prayer room with little more than a couple chairs scattered around, with some leaflets and Bibles on a table. But if you’re looking for more than a place to pray, and need to get to Mass, what can you do?

Happily, this website has the answer, listing major airports with links and Mass information:

Most of these chapels are open to all faiths, but some have a regularly scheduled Catholic Mass on certain days. And, if you are traveling over a weekend, it can be a great opportunity to attend Mass that you otherwise might miss. In addition, if you have a group traveling with a priest, he may be able to celebrate Mass in the chapel.

Some also have reconciliation….a great opportunity if you just came off a flight where the person ahead of you had his seat so far back he was almost in your lap!

By coincidence, I found myself this morning at JFK Airport in New York City and, having some time to kill, dropped by Our Lady of the Skies, the Catholic chapel in the Delta terminal.

[img attachment=”100098″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”13087331_10208418618835507_2985349196217351514_n” /]

The Blessed Sacrament is there, and a holy water font, and a couple dozen chairs. They offer Mass five days a week. A book is open near the door, so you can ask for prayers.

[img attachment=”100099″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”13043229_10208418617915484_1452979827968933226_n” /]

There are also prayer cards available.

[img attachment=”100100″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”13051692_10208418617995486_4739285389429330663_n” /]

And, near the altar, there’s this unusual depiction of Our Lady of the Skies, poised atop an airplane propeller.

[img attachment=”100101″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”13055372_10208418640516049_4036236919627288393_n” /]

My only other experience visiting a Catholic airport chapel was during a brief overnight stay in Chicago last year.

[img attachment=”100102″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010620″ /]

The space is larger than the one in New York—although, when I visited, I was one of only a handful of people attending the Mass.

[img attachment=”100103″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010615″ /]

The priest who oversees the chapel gave me a holy card with this prayer:

Father of mercies,
Our life journey is in your providential and loving hands. Your son, Jesus, is the way, the life and the truth as we make our pilgrimage on earth to our heavenly home.
Your Holy Spirit gives us enlightenment and courage as we meet the challenges and responsibilities of our lives.
Through Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother as well, you extend to us the unique and loving care of a mother.
With all the angels and saints, we come before you, Father, and give you thanks for these and all your gifts that accompany our lives.
Hear our prayers as we begin our journey…
bring us safely to our destination
be with those who are responsible for making our journey possible: the flight crew, airport workers and those charged with our safety and security
accompany with your consolation and encouragement those among us who make their journey in sorrow or with a sense of loss
give us patience and a deep spirit of respect for all whom we will meet along the way
when our earthly journey is completed, bring us home to You with joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Anyway: check out this website to see if an airport you’re visiting offers Mass. You never know when it might come in handy.

Photos: Deacon Greg Kandra

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 22, 2016

Hello, Joliet!

Next Post

April 23, 2016 Forming a Conscience: "Mind Your Own Business"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many times does the Bible mention the word "love"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Over 300 700 100 500

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »