Participating in a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in his private chapel was an unforgettable experience for Deacon Don Kelsey of Holy Trinity parish, Peachtree City.

Deacon Kelsey was in Rome to attend the eighth international seminar of Catholic Chaplains of Civil Aviation. He was one of three U.S. deacons taking part in the sessions which drew 55 priests and deacons from around the world.

Seminar leaders had told the attendees that they "would possibly get together" with the pope, Kelsey said. But to actually have him celebrate Mass in his small chapel was an unexpected thrill.

"When we walked in to the chapel," Kelsey said, "he was sitting in his chair and praying." He vested right there, and after Mass went back to his chair and his prayers.

After the Mass the chaplains joined the pope in his library. He greeted each one individually and presented each with a rosary.

"He was the most impressive person I have ever met," Kelsey said. "Being with him was a joyful experience."

Kelsey has been volunteering as a chaplain at the Interfaith Chapel at Hartsfield International Airport since 1987, a year before he retired as an official with the Federal Aviation Administration. He was ordained a permanent deacon for the archdiocese in 1990.

The purpose of the seminar was to develop "a more ecumenical relationship at airports around the world," Kelsey said. Talks on how to reach this goal were given by several Vatican officials during the May 4-7 seminar. Meetings were held in a retreat house that was once a convent about two miles from the Vatican. The participants were at the Vatican each day.

The seminar gave Kelsey the chance to discuss the challenges of airport ministry with chaplains from many countries. One surprise participant, he said, was a priest from mainland China who spoke excellent English. He told the others that his bishop had sent him to the meeting because he was considering starting such a ministry.

Kelsey observed at the Rome meeting that more and more bishops are assigning priests or deacons to airports as full-time ministers. In his years as a volunteer chaplain, Kelsey has helped young runaways, children "being shipped" from one parent to another and has prayed in the chapel with grieving families awaiting the arrival of a loved one's body.

He tells the story of the Irish woman who had traveled to this country by ship in the late 1930s. Now, it was her first trip back, her first flight and she was terrified. Kelsey went with her to the chapel where they prayed for half an hour. When they came out she told him her fears were calmed and she was ready for the plane trip.

Nowadays, Kelsey said, he is Catholic representative on the airport chaplaincies board. He serves as director of the personnel board and attends monthly board meetings and other special events. There is a ecumenical service celebrated weekly.