Blessing to help keep pilots safely on course

Operators of air safari and charter flight company Kimberley Aviation celebrated the arrival of a new aircraft with a blessing ceremony recently.

Owners Andrew Grace and Sadie Prendergast invited staff to attend a short ceremony led by Father Matt Digges of the

Broome Catholic Diocese to bless the company’s new Cessna 210 aircraft and their other planes.

Ms Prendergast said she had approached Fr Digges with her idea to conduct a blessing to celebrate the new aircraft and the aviation industry.

A short service was held before Fr Digges blessed the planes and sprinkled them with holy water. He said the blessing was for staff, passengers and to guide and keep pilots safe.

Fr Digges said it would be wonderful to conduct annual blessings for pilots and aircrafts. He also took the opportunity to acknowledge St Joseph Cupertino – the patron saint of flying, whose feast day is celebrated by the Catholic faith on

September 18.

St Joseph was nicknamed “The Flying Saint” because of his tendency to levitate and soar into the sky uncontrollably while in prayer and meditation.