Today is "Sea Sunday" in the Catholic Church. It is the day that we pray for the work of the Apostleship of the Sea, the Catholic Church's Mission to Seamen, ports and shipping. AoS is a part of a world-wide network of Catholic Chaplains, ship visitors and supporters who give spiritual and practical aid and succour to seamen all over the world.
The life of a seafarer is hard and very difficult. These days, when time is money and a modern Container ship can be loaded and unloaded in less than ten hours a seaman would be lucky to go ashore even once in a typical 12 month contract. Isolation and lonliness are the lot of many seamen, most of whom come from third world countries. The Philipines supply approximately 45% of the world's seamen. Some of the contracts of these seamen are little better than Indentured labour. Many seamen are working for much less than £1 a day. Accidents in port, at sea are common. Storms, badly maintained ships, Pirates are routine challenges for seamen. Away from home for months, even years at a time, with no chance to worship and receive Communion.
Back in February one may remember the terrible storms which swept around our coasts. There was a ship, a 50,000 Ton fruit ship, Registered in Dover which was making its way up the South Western Approaches to Dover. Near to the Scillies the storm struck. The weather was awesome and fierce. The ship was confronted by 60 and 80 foot waves. The Captain had never seen anything like this before and nor had the crew. A wave topped over the ship, may be 70 or 80 feeet high. The wave smashed over and onto the ship. The force of the wave ws so great that the wheelhouse was smashed. The watch, including the Captain were swept out of the wheelhouse and down the steps. The Captain broke his back. The ship nearly broached. Later Irish Coastguard helicopters managed to take the Captain and another injured crewman, off the ship. A few days later she was safely in Port at Dover and the Port Chaplain and his team of ship visitors were there to welcome her and to give comfort to the crew.
The AoS exists to do something about these situations. They help seamen to stay in touch with family. They give communion where it is possible, and pray for the crews. Prayer cards, Bibles, othewr spiritual reading, DVD's and music CDs are often given to crews by ship visitors, together with knitted woolen hats and mittens and gloves and scarves. They comfort distressed crews, aid the sick, visit the sick if they need to go to hospital. Please pray for their work and give generously to the cause today.
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