Author: Sarah Eustace

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a barrister and a former ship’s captain turned diplomat as new trustees of Apostleship of the Sea (AoS). 
              Our new chair is Simon O’Toole, a barrister and a governing bencher of the Inner Temple in London, who has extensive experience of working with the voluntary sector in education and outreach. (please see our up-to-date Trustee Page) 
              He is currently chair of the ethical Advisory Committee of Charifaith, a common investment fund managed by BlackRock, which is the first fund in the UK to reflect the ethos and teachings of the Catholic Church. 
              He recently stepped down after six years as a member of the Advisory Board of the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) of the Council of Europe, and will remain the HELP contact person for the UK. 
              Simon is a reader at Mass in his local parish, and his hobbies include sailing, walking and the arts. 
              He said, “I am delighted to succeed Rev. Stephen Morgan, as chair. During Stephen's time, AoS has become a stronger organisation, and many people have expressed to me their appreciation of Stephen's service of AoS. 
              “I look forward to helping AoS in the wonderful work it does in providing practical and pastoral care to the seafarers who bring us in the UK so many of the good we rely on.” 
 
Simon O'Toole                                                       Esteban Pacha

              The new AoS vice chair is Esteban Pacha, a Spaniard, who began his career as a seafarer on merchant vessels and went on to serve as a captain before becoming a harbour master. 
              Since then, he has served as director general of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO); founder commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development; representative of Spain to the International Maritime Organization (IMO): and governor of the World Maritime University.
              A former regional director of the Spanish Department for Transport, he is currently the transport and infrastructures attaché at the Embassy of Spain in London. 
              Esteban is married with three daughters and enjoys sailing on the Thames at weekends. 

The head of the Catholic Church in England & Wales Cardinal Vincent Nichols has paid tribute to the work of seafarers’ Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) ahead of Sea Sunday which falls on July 8 this year. 
             The Cardinal, who was speaking to members of the clergy, maritime and government officials, and supporters of AoS on board the HQS Wellington recalled his visit to Tilbury Docks in June 2015. 
             He said, “It was a privilege to go to Tilbury and to see some of the work first-hand the Apostleship of the Sea do. I went on board and got a feel of the confined quarters in which seafarers lived and all the dangerous edges they negotiate all the time, with huge amounts of heavy equipment and other machinery.
             “It was wonderful to get the sense of how Apostleship of the Sea responds to the needs of seafarers, and I really do want to thank them,” he added. 
   
             Cardinal Nichols, who is also President of the Santa Marta Group, which was formed to counter the huge criminal activity of modern-day slavery, said there were cases of seafarers and fishermen being effectively imprisoned on their ships, not paid their wages and held in a modern-day form of press-ganging and slavery. 
             In response, the Santa Marta Group has partnered with AoS to launch a series of workshops, to be delivered in key ports around the world, to educate and inform AoS chaplains, volunteers, port officials and police about the scourge of slavery at sea and what can be done to protect and support seafarers and fishermen. 
             The first workshop took place in Tilbury earlier this year, followed by Santos, Brazil in May and will be rolled-out at ports globally. 
             As Sea Sunday approaches, the Cardinal urged continued support for AoS and its ministry. He paid tribute to all those who work for AoS and those who kindly give their time and support volunteering with the organisation.

* More photos can be seen on our Flickr site here.

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Family separation, lack of shore leave, violence and abandonment are some of the realities experienced by seafarers today, the Vatican has highlighted in its message for Sea Sunday 2018 which falls on July 8. 
             Cardinal Peter A. Turkson, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development said, “We remember the 1.2 million of seafarers who live for several months in the confined space of a vessel, away from their families and loved ones missing the most important and meaningful events in their families such as birthdays and graduations and failing to be present during times of trials and difficulties such as sickness and death.” 
             Cardinal Turkson said many seafarers are also denied shore leave and ship visits from seafarers’ welfare personnel. 
             “Turnaround time in the ports is reduced to the minimal, leaving the crew with inadequate personal time to rest and relax. In numerous ports, crews are finding it increasingly difficult to get permission to go ashore, either because of company policy or because restrictive and discriminatory regulations imposed by governments.” 
             He added, “Many of Apostleship of the Sea chaplains and ship visitors are denied entry into ports or prevented from boarding vessels to provide material and spiritual welfare to seafarers who reach shore after weeks at sea.

             This contradicts the spirit of the Regulation 4.4 of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).” 
             Cardinal Turkson further highlighted that violence at sea that generally is characterised by piracy remained a threat to seafarers. 
             “We request governments and ship owners to put into place all the necessary mechanisms to protect the life of the people at sea,” he said.
             Another issue affecting seafarers is abandonment of vessels and crews, said Cardinal Turkson. He cited a newspaper report which said from 2012 to 2017 more than 1,300 seafarers were abandoned for various reasons in ports far from their homes, often unpaid and without food and fuel provisions for the ships.
             “We express our sincere gratitude to all Stella Maris chaplains and volunteers who for months and months have and are still providing material, spiritual, legal and psychological support to several crews of abandoned vessels,” he said.

* Cardinal Turkson's Sea Sunday message can be read here.

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The Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society at St Mary's University in Twickhenham, London has published a report titled ‘Being There: How Catholic chaplains support seafarers in the UK’ which examines the vital work of Apostleship of the Sea with seafarers. 
             The Centre says tens of thousands of seafarers visit British ports each year, making brief stops after days or weeks at sea. They largely remain invisible to the rest of society. 
             The report looks at how AoS continues a tradition that goes back to the Early Church, offering vital forms of aid and assistance to all seafarers, regardless of religion or nationality. 
             It explores the hard and ‘hidden’ lives of seafarers, and the vital work undertaken by AoS in supporting them. 
             The report was authored by Francesca E. S. Montemaggi Stephen Bullivant Maureen Glackin.
             We encourage you to find out more about the report and download it by going here.

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We were delighted to host work experience student, Ciaran Bourke, from Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, London, at our head office for two weeks in July.
              Ciaran has written a lovely article about his experience with AoS. Here's what he says;

              "From the 9th July 2018, I did 2 weeks of work experience in the head office of Apostleship of the Sea. The work I did mainly involved spreadsheets to do with ship management regarding the ships that Port Chaplains had visited.
              "My job was to input this data into a spreadsheet so the charity is able to see that a company had its ships visited many times over the course of the year. The work I did, therefore, was useful and helpful for the charity.
              "I also worked with the stock that Apostleship of the Sea sells, counting and packaging it to be sent off to those who have bought it. I never knew that the charity sold goods, so this was an interesting experience for me.
              "Part of my work also involved researching charities similar to AoS and finding what makes each of them different and unique. As it turns out, AoS is in the most ports and in most countries than any other seafarers’ charity.

              "I also updated a list of all the Catholic MPs and the MPs who had a port in their constituency, so the charity knew who they could invite to functions and events.
              "The most eye-opening part of my work experience was visiting Ipswich Port with AoS London Officer Roland Hayes and Port Chaplain Patricia Ezra. There, I learned about the work of a Port Chaplain and about what goes on in their day-to-day lives.
              "Despite the fact we only saw 3 ships (as it is quite a small port) and we spoke to only a few seafarers, I still learnt a lot, especially that on some days you could visit 7 or 8 ships, and on another, none. 
              "I greatly enjoyed my work experience and the staff were very kind and very welcoming. I learned a lot about the charity but also about office work. I had a great time and it was very interesting, the staff were a joy to work with, and I hope I was able to help the charity over the 2 weeks."

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The Head of Filipino chaplaincy in Rome celebrated Mass for more than 80 crew and Officers of the cruise ship Boudicca when the vessel docked in Civitavecchia on June 9, 2018. 
              Fr Ricky Gente celebrated Mass on board the Fred. Olsen ship on the Feast of the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fr Bruno Ciceri, Vatican International Coordinator for Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) concelebrated. 
              This was the first time Catholic Mass has been celebrated for the crew on board a Fred. Olsen ship and the crew were delighted.
              After Mass, the clergy spent time with the crew in the crew mess. The pastoral visit to Boudicca was organised by AoS, the Catholic Church’s maritime agency which supports seafarers’ spiritual, pastoral and practical needs. 
              Fr Bruno presented Captain Mikael Degerlund, Master of Boudicca, with the Crest of the Apostleship of the Sea and the Captain presented Fr Bruno with the ship's crest. 

Captain Degerlund receives the AoS crest from Fr Bruno
 
              In his homily, Fr Ricky preached about our Christian vocation to answer the Lord's call to respond to his invitation to live the Christian life no matter what age we are. 
              He stressed that young people, like so many of the crew attending the Mass, are the future of their country. And, through their work, they are providing a future for others. 
              Also on board was Rev Roger Stone BEM, AoS Great Britain Senior Regional Port Chaplain (Wales and West Country). Roger said, “I can say how important it is that the crew are able to practise their faith and it was especially poignant to see the joy on everyone's faces on the occasion of a special pastoral visit from the Vatican. 
              “We spent time with the crew in the crew mess. On a tour of the ship many passengers commented how wonderful it was that something special was arranged for the crew,” he added. 

Fr Ricky with some crew members

              Crew members described the pastoral visit as "an amazing experience". One crew member said he had felt very low in the morning because of problems at home, but after the pastoral visit he felt at peace.
              Captain Degerlund said, "We were honoured to welcome the Vatican pastoral visit on board Boudicca in Civitavecchia over the weekend and to receive the Crest of the Apostleship of the Sea.
              "It was a very meaningful visit, particularly for our crew members who have grown up in the Catholic faith. We were pleased to give them time off to celebrate Mass, as we know how important that it is for them, especially as the service was conducted by priests coming from the Vatican. 
              "For many of our crew members, being far from home, often for long periods of time, this kind of activity – where they can practise and celebrate their faith – was most welcome and appreciated on board Boudicca." 
              Fr Bruno expressed his gratitude to AoS in the UK for arranging the visit with Fred. Olsen and Boudicca. 

Rev Roger with a crew member

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Pope Francis has prayed for seafarers and fishermen and their families as churches across the world celebrated Sea Sunday on July 8. 
              “I pray for them and their families as well as for the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea,” the Pontiff said at the Sunday Angelus in St Peter’s Square, Vatican. 
              The Pope also made mention “of those who live in unworthy work situations at sea”. 
              Thousands of churches around the world marked Sea Sunday this year with Mass and prayers for seafarers, their families and those who support them. 
              Proceeds from the Sea Sunday collection in Great Britain will ensure the work of Apostleship of the Sea with seafarers and fishermen can continue.
              It is estimated that a third of all seafarers and fishermen are Catholic, with a large number coming from countries such as India, the Philippines and Poland. 
              Meanwhile, in a Sea Sunday message, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican called for the protection of seafarers. 
              He highlighted the hardships that seafarers sometimes endure while working at sea including abandonment, inadequate personal time to rest and relax, and piracy.

Pope Francis. Copyright: © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

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Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) Immingham Port Chaplain Fr Colum Kelly flew the flag for AoS at the 40th Conference of the National Justice and Peace Network in July. 
              Fr Colum also chaired a session and spoke about how AoS cares for seafarers by going out to meet them where they work on ships and at port, fully embracing the inspiration of Pope Francis and his call for the Church to be a “field hospital”, outgoing and responsive to the needy.
              You can read about the conference here https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference-reports/njpn-conference-justice-is-not-high-enough-up-the-political-agenda/

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AoS celebrates its 10th anniversary in Jersey. Terry Brown, who helped set up AoS on the island and who's a ship visitor there gives us an insight into its beginnings.
              "Monsignor Nicholas France, Parish Priest and Catholic Dean in Jersey and one time AoS Trustee put out an appeal in 2007 for someone to set up the organisation in Jersey, being an island and relying on shipping he thought AoS should have a presence in Jersey.
              "The Knights of St. Columba, Council 216, Jersey took on this task and and in 2008 a branch of AoS was set up in Jersey with the kind assistance of the Ports of Jersey. Five members of the Knights of St Columba became volunteer ship visitors, a couple of years later one lady joined our ranks.

              "The ships that arrive in Jersey include small coasters, gas and oil tankers and ferries on route to and from Poole and Portsmouth and St. Malo, the crews of which are all visited by our AoS volunteers. At Christmas and Easter periods we join forces with MtS Jersey, to take on board woolly hats, toiletries, biscuits, confectionery and greeting cards for each crew member all donated by Islanders.
              "Every year for the past six or seven years AoS Jersey together with the Knights of St Columba, on May Bank Holiday have a fund raising function, a Sponsored Walking on Water to France, walking around St. Catherines’ Breakwater 18 times, the distance of 23 km to the coast of France.
              "Proceeds of the income is shared 80% with AoS and 20% with the Knights of St Columba Charity Fund, Jersey. So far about £20,000 has been raised for AoS UK. This again was the brainchild of Monsignor Nicholas to whom AoS Jersey is saying a fond farewell as he leaves for retirement in September."
       
     
                                                             Monsignor Nicholas France
             
              * There's a brilliant article in the latest edition of Portsmouth People about AoS Jersey celebrating its 10th anniversary.
              It's compiled by Greg Watts. AoS Jersey ship visitor Terry Brown speaks about how he helped set up Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) in Jersey. Terry was a former merchant seaman himself.
              We'd like to wish a huge congratulations and say a big THANK YOU to all our wonderful ship visitors, volunteers and supporters on the island for their amazing dedication and great work with seafarers.
              The article can be read online here. It's on page 27.

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Our ministry with seafarers is sometimes referred to as a 'Ministry of Being' – just being there for seafarers. 
              Some weeks ago, our Immingham Port Chaplain Steve Willows met the captain and two crew members of a ship.
              It was the captain’s first time off the ship since joining. He had been at sea for about five months. His first words when stepping off the linkspan was “Thank God, I have arrived!”.
              He was so excited to come off the ship and to be able to get away for a few hours. 
              Steve took them to the Seafarers Centre to get some supplies and some lunch. He spent time talking with and listening to them, and they spoke about places in the Philippines where the men were from. 
             
              The seafarers then asked if they could go to a local church, so Steve took them to St Mary on the Sea Church, Grimsby.
              Steve said, “When we arrived, Benediction was just starting so it was good that they could be there for that. After that I took them back to the ship as they had to set sail later that day. The few hours they had away were much appreciated." 
              The next day Steve received a message from the captain saying, “Many thanks for the patient sir for us, see your beautiful place. Its worth remembering and wonderful. Wish you all the best.” 
              Just being there made a difference to those seafarers. Small gestures, but taken together they make a huge difference.

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