JAMAICA — Some 63 million passengers pass through John F. Kennedy International Airport each year, carrying tickets to destinations around the world. But behind each ticket, Our Lady of the Skies chaplain Father Cezariusz Jastrzębski notes that “there is a human heart” and “human dignity.”
Now, travelers passing through Terminal 4 will encounter two new reminders of that dignity: A first-class relic of St. John Paul II and a statue of St. Teresa of Calcutta.
The relic, a small portion of his blood, was installed, and the statue was blessed during a special Mass on Nov. 12, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski at Our Lady of the Skies, bringing together airport leaders, employees, and members of the local Catholic community.
For Father Jastrzębski, the two saints are particularly fitting additions to a chapel tucked inside one of the nation’s busiest international gateways.
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“Those two saints remind us about faith, about love, about courage and compassion,” he said. “These two saints always brought God to other people, and they also brought people to God.”
Both St. John Paul II and St. Teresa traveled extensively during their lifetimes, Bishop Mroziewski noted, carrying their ministries to people around the world. Known as the “Pilgrim Pope,” St. John Paul II visited more than 129 countries during his pontificate.
“Evangelization was the primary topic that they brought to their travels, (which) were filled with love to the people,” Bishop Mroziewski told The Tablet. “Everyone was very dear to their hearts, and even by their eye contact, they did wonderful evangelization and spread the love of God around the world.”
Bringing both saints to the airport chapel began with two separate efforts that eventually came together.
Father Jastrzębski said the idea of obtaining a relic of St. John Paul II took shape around Oct. 16 — the anniversary of his election to the papacy in 1978.
Working with the Catholic Guild of JFK, he contacted the Archdiocese of Krakow, Poland, where St. John Paul II served as archbishop before becoming pope, and successfully requested a relic for Our Lady of the Skies.
The connection to Krakow carried particular significance for Maria Bielska, a member of the Polish Scouting Organization who attended the installation. A native of Krakow, Bielska said she had a personal connection to St. John Paul II while living in Poland.
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“I, myself, personally knew him. In fact, I was confirmed by him,” she said. “So, this is very special to me.”
Bielska later visited St. John Paul II in Rome with other members of the Polish Scouting Organization, where she recalled him singing with the scouts and encouraging them to remain faithful and courageous.
“He gave us a special commandment: stay faithful and be brave. Always be brave,” Bielska recalled. “Do not be afraid.”
Meanwhile, Vilson “Vinny” Dautaj, co-founder of Fratellini Restaurant Group, had been looking for a way to make a lasting contribution to the chapel. With one of his eateries located inside Terminal 4, he and his brother, Mirian, worked closely with Father Jastrzębski to arrange for a statue of St. Teresa of Calcutta to be obtained through a religious shop in Bergamo, Italy.
Growing up in Albania under communist rule, Dautaj said he was not permitted to practice religion. Still, he remembered hearing about Mother Teresa and became curious about the Albanian woman who had dedicated her life to serving people in need worldwide.
After moving to Italy at a young age, Dautaj learned more about her life and mission, which he said influenced his own approach to helping others.
“Mother Teresa means a lot not only to me but also my family,” Dautaj said.
For him, her presence at JFK represents more than the statue itself, but the mission she left behind — serving others without regard for their background and without expecting anything in return.
“We do it from the bottom of our heart, and we do it because we believe it,” Dautaj said. “And that’s why we’re here.”
