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On Thursday 24 April, members of the Catholic community and Multifaith Chaplains at Gatwick Airport gathered to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the seven years that Fr Binoy Nilayattingal Thomas has spent as Catholic Chaplain of the Multifaith Team at Gatwick.

Throughout his seven years of ministry, Fr Binoy has generously served airport staff (including retail workers and flight crews), passengers, and many others visiting Gatwick, through his friendly, welcoming presence and the celebration of Mass.

The Catholic Chaplaincy at Gatwick was first established in January 1973 by Bishop Michael Bowen, with major world events impacting on visitors and staff at Gatwick in the intervening years including: the Asian Tsunami and Libyan Crisis, and pivotal visits from world leaders including Pope John Paul II - the first Pope to visit UK - who arrived at Gatwick Airport on 28 May 1982, to be met by Cardinal Basil Hume and the then Bishop of Arundel & Brighton, Cormac Murphy O'Connor.

Much has changed since 1973 but the journey continues, with the chaplaincy team now including Anglican, Salvation Army, Methodist, Christian Fellowship, Buddhist and Muslim, chaplains.

Bishop Richard Moth celebrated Thursday's Mass of Thanksgiving with Fr Binoy, joined by Deacon Ian Wells, past and present Chaplains of other denominations, and a number of committed Catholic staff and passengers representing the global Catholic community. Reflecting on Fr Binoy's time at Gatwick, a member of the Multifath Chaplaincy team said:

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"Throughout the difficult, lonely years of the Covid-19 pandemic Fr Binoy was a sign of hope, support and healing for many, something that has continued in more recent years as the world has experienced global unrest. We are sad to see Fr Binoy leave but remember what Jesus said to us: 'Go make disciples of all nations.' (Matt 28:19).

"Pope Francis constantly reminded us, especially in Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), that we all have a part to play in proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel: 'All the baptised, whatever their position in theChurch or their level of instruction in the Faith are agents of evangelisation.' (E.G, 120). Our priests are leaders and guides who enable us to take our part in evangelisation, let us pray for them and the work of Chaplaincy Ministry here in our Diocese."

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Many thanks to Sr Jo Threlfall SNDdeN for sharing this story and the photographs with us.

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