Father Nicolas Tumbelaka tackles 'challenge in very secular area' to change image of priesthood
By Alistair Burns
The B.C. Catholic
RICHMOND

On the international arrivals level of the Vancouver Airport, a petite interfaith chapel sits across from a newsstand. Father Nicolas Tumbelaka, the associate airport chaplain for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, calls that corner of YVR home on Tuesdays and Sundays. He walks amidst the hustle and bustle of the terminals, blessing travellers and providing on-the-fly confession.

The B.C. Catholic's Alistair Burns sat down with Father Tumbelaka to discuss his late call to the priesthood, his recent meeting with the Pope, why he decided to evangelize at the airport, and his outlook on the Church's future.

Alistair Burns: Where were you born?

Father Nicolas Tumbelaka: In Indonesia. I thought of joining the clergy when I was young but I was afraid to tell my family. My parents were Catholic, but my grandparents and my uncle, who supported me, were not Catholic; they discouraged that idea.

I continued my university studies and spent nine years as a banker in Indonesia, and God was patient with me.

AB: When did you become a priest?

FT: As I got older, I felt the call. When I came to Canada in 1998 I had the opportunity to go to daily Mass. It brought back my childhood memory, and people would ask, 'Have you thought about becoming a priest'? It was a sign.

After leaving a bank job and studying at the Seminary of Christ the King, I was ordained in 2006. I had kept promising the Lord, and I kept my word.

AB: I've been to YVR dozens of times and didn't know there was a chapel here. How did this chaplaincy come about for you?

FT: One day I happened to check the archdiocesan website, and there was a call for a priest to take the position. I thought this would be interesting, so after prayer for discernment, I wrote a letter to the archbishop, and was appointed in 2010.

AB: You recently went to the 15th World Seminar for Catholic Civil Aviation Chaplains in Rome. What was that like?

FT: I met with the Holy Father in a personal audience alongside 80 chaplains. What a privilege to enter the Vatican! The Pope spoke in Italian, and I don't speak the language, but what a great honour. I do remember only those in the first row got to shake his hand; I was in the second row.

AB: I understand the Pope remarked, "Airports reflect the crisis of faith that affects many people." When you hear that, what do you think is the Church's role in the airport?

FT: By our presence there we remind people that God is still here. Some think having (religion) in the airport is a waste of time, but over time, people start to get to know you. It's a challenge in a very secular area.

I say to myself, "I'm going to change the image of the priesthood." Every time I park to go into YVR, I pray the Rosary. I say, "Mom, Blessed Virgin, may my presence here affect the people."

AB: Any stories of conversion you'd care to tell us?

FT: One day a man walked up to me and said, "I have an issue about the Church." I wasn't offended; many Protestants don't hate the Church, they simply misunderstand it. If they understand it, they will become Catholic.

So I said to him, please come to St. Andrew's (Father Tumbelaka's former parish. He is now pastor of Our Lady of Mercy). The man did come and attended Mass. It was amazing; before he (entered the Church), he cried because he could not receive Communion.

AB: We always hear doom and gloom regarding the future of the Church. How do you think the Church will survive in this new era of evangelization?

FT: I believe that if I keep doing this (chaplaincy), the Lord is still working in His way. I recently helped in Loudres, helping with confessions for three weeks. People were promising to start over, a new life. It was really inspiring to see.

I think we priests have to examine ourselves. I would never blame the lay people. At the same time, the Lord says, "I will be with you until the end of time," so we have to be positive.

AB: Comment on your ministry.

FN: I really hope other priests see this as a good ministry. I see that other airport chaplaincies, for example in Chicago (at O'Hare Intl.) have daily Mass and four Masses on Sunday. I'd like to add more Masses at YVR on the Sabbath.

I have Mass Christmas Eve, too. One man phoned from Toronto to make sure he could attend, because he was flying into Vancouver.

Father Tumbelaka is at YVR Tuesdays 1-5 p.m. and Sundays 3-7 p.m. On Sundays he leads the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:30 p.m., teaches catechism at 3:45 p.m., and celebrates Mass at 4 p.m., all inside the airport chapel (604-303-3010). Any priests interested in being part-time airport chaplains should contact Father Tumbelaka.

aburns@rcav.org