Prayer Corner
May the Blessings of the Risen Lord be with All of You.
For the country of Poland, as they mourn the loss of their President and First Lady and so many leaders. May Russia's response help to bring a renewed unity between the 2 countries and their people.
Please continue to keep Mr. Anthony Mauriello in prayer. He is the Father of Fr. Matt Mauriello, our Cruise Ship Priest Board Representative. Fr. Matt says he has gone through the chemo well, and is out of the woods. So keep those prayers going!
Mrs. Linda Lowe, wife of Fr Bill Lowe, former Episcopalian priest now serving as a Cruise Ship Priest. Linda was in a serious motorcycle accident. She has had some improvements but it is slow. Continue prayers for the family. |
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Easter: A Proclamation of Hope, Joy and Love
(An Easter Message from the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People)
After the Lenten penitential journey, with Easter we celebrate the core of the Christian message. It is not simply a remembrance of the historic event of Christ's Resurrection; it is the celebration of His victory over the powers of sin and evil, over death and the lack of meaning in life.
In these times, the maritime world is undergoing great changes which will affect the future of seafarers, tenacious people who are strengthened by sacrifice and solidarity. Unfortunately, their work remains hard, and every day we are witnesses to the difficulties they encounter: they are forced to live for months, if not years, far from their loved ones; they are the first ones to suffer because of the repeated pirate attacks, while continuously are easily criminalized. Often they are denied permission to go ashore, and they are exploited on the job and in their pay, and not a few of them will loose their lives at sea.
But "the Risen Christ signals the paths of hope along which we can advance together towards a world more just and mutually supportive, in which the blind egoism of the few will not prevail over the cries of pain of the many" (John Paul II, Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter 2000).
Easter comes as a message of hope, joy and love for all the seafarers too.
Hope in the Risen Lord invites us to not give up to the injustices present in the maritime world, but to fight them in a Christian way, in solidarity with the victims. In this "Year of the Seafarer", hope becomes greater and more practical in everyone's commitment to struggle for a more safe and just world in which the international Conventions will be ratified and applied for respect of the rights of the seafarers, their families and the environment.
Today for us, evermore, the joy of the Risen Lord's becomes gratitude and celebration for the 90th anniversary of the Apostleship of the Sea's foundation. A small group especially of committed laypersons, who met in Glasgow for the first time on October 4, 1920, has developed and spread to become a great "Work" of the Church. Let us pray the Risen Lord to give to AOS a new life, supported by chaplains and volunteers who will continue, with generosity and dedication, to provide for the pastoral care of seafarers, fishers and their families, and to respond in so many ports around the world to the needs of seafarers of all races, nationalities and religions, now including the ones working in cruise ships as well.
Lastly, in consideration of the love for each one of us which brought the Lord Jesus to die on the cross and overcome the barriers of evil and division through His Resurrection, during this Easter let us ask Him to grant to all those who work in the maritime world the strength to welcome and love every person without discrimination.
Dear seafarers and fishers, together with all who are united to you through family ties, may this Easter message of hope, joy and love reach you. May the Risen Lord's blessing descend upon you and the peace of that first day of the Week, which made all things new, be with you always.
XAntonio Maria Vegliņ
President
XArchbishop Agostino Marchetto
Secretary
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 National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea
The Maritime Day Mass will be on Saturday, May 22, 12:10 pmat the 'Crypt Church' of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Michigan Ave.
Thanks to all those who gave input in the planning meetings. We still have a task to do, to get the word out and invite others to join the Mass in observance of "National Day of Prayerand Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea", which will be held in conjunction with the National Maritime Day.
Attached (by links) are the flyers in English and Spanish, designed by Lt. Joe Klinker, CG.
English Language Poster: Spanish Language Poster http://aos-usa.org/files/AOS_Poster_Spa.pdf Feel free to send the flyers to the maritime community and those who support their work. If you need hard copies, request by email to: mmarzec@usccb.orgor for more information contact 202.541.3225.
Blessings and happy Easter,
Sr. Myrna
Sr. Myrna Tordillo, mscs
National Director
AOS in the USA
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Seatrade Debuts Special 2010 Year of the Seafarer Award
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The following is the text of a press release issued by Seatrade:
(COLCHESTER, U.K.) -- Seatrade is pleased to announce a new special award for 2010 - Seatrade Year of the Seafarer Award - in support of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) theme for this year's World Maritime Day, "2010: Year of the Seafarer".
IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, himself a former seafarer, explained the theme had been chosen, "to allow the maritime community to pay tribute to Seafarers for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the vital part they play in the facilitation of global trade".
Each year Seatrade rewards those who have made exceptional contributions in the maritime industry over the past year at the Seatrade Awards Ceremony Dinner. This year's event will take place on Monday 24 May, at the Guildhall in London. The awards will be presented by our Guest of Honour, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of Navel Staff.
With over 1.5 million seafarers world-wide Seatrade is proud to be supporting the IMO's initiative in highlighting the intense role that seafarers face at the "sharp end" of the industry, and ensure they receive the respect and acknowledgement they deserve.
Please join us for the 2010 Seatrade Awards, one of the oldest maritime awards schemes, as we celebrate outstanding achievements over the last year for safe, efficient and environmentally friendly shipping. |
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European Shipping Corporations Indicted in Eastern District of Texas
(This story began in Port Arthur, Texas in August of last year. Since then, 7 crewmembers have been made to stay in Beaumont as Material Witnesses. The long stay meant that they spent Christmas and Easter away from their families, and eventually their Visa's ran out. Subsequently the mariners were made to physically check in with police twice a day as if on parole, since the lack of a VISA created an immigration issue. We understand that the crew will finally be allowed to return home in the next 2 to 3 weeks. The men are from 3 different countries, but all are Catholic and have been able to attend Mass each Sunday, thanks to Fr Sinclair and the staff of the Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center.)
BEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that a federal
grand jury has indicted two European shipping corporations this week for
environmental crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.
CIMPSHIP TRANSPORTES MARITIMOS, S.A., a Portuguese corporation
headquartered in Funchal, Portugal, and ERSHIP S.A., a Spanish
corporation headquartered in Madrid, Spain, have been indicted and
charged with conspiring to violate environmental laws causing willful
pollution of waterways within the Eastern District of Texas.
According to the indictment, CIMPSHIP owned the Niebla, a 38,000 ton
ocean-going ship, which was operated by ERSHIP as a bulk-freight carrier
transporting bulk cargo from various ports in the Gulf Coast including
Port Arthur, Texas. It is alleged that from Mar. 2008 through Aug.
2009, Niebla crew members, on behalf of CIMPSHIP and ERSHIP, failed to
maintain an Oil Record Book as required by federal law.
If convicted, the corporations each face a fine of up to $500,000 for
each of the 18 counts charged in the indictment.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard and prosecuted
by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin D. Collins and Joseph R. Batte.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be
considered as evidence of guilt and that all defendants charged with a
crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.
Davilyn Walston
Public Information Officer
Law Enforcement Coordinator
U.S. Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Texas
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Sailors Helpline Website Launched
We are extremely glad to state that the new website: www.sailorshelpline.org has been developed to improve awareness of the Helpline services which are available for seafarers and fishers in crisis, despair and emotional distress.
We provide advice and support to seafarers sailing on ships operated by fly by night operators. We also promote awareness of seafarer's rights and issues.
Founded in 2002, Sailors Helpline (Regd), is based in the port city of Chennai- India, is serving the maritime community of India with emergency social services. Sailors Helpline is a non-profit and non-governmental organization. The ongoing work of the Helpline is made possible by a dedicated corps of volunteers who consist of lawyers, active seafarer's welfare workers and port chaplains, who are dedicated in assisting seafarers and fishers.
The Helpline provides free and confidential information and referrals for Seafarers. Our close association with various seafarers assistance network nationally and internationally, facilitates us in assisting the seafarers during the hour of crisis. In India the Seafarers Helpline is the pioneer NGO working for the betterment of the families of missing seafarers and accident victims. Sailors Helpline enjoys broad-based maritime community support.
Some of the best maritime/legal minds and talent are part of our team. They comprise of lawyers, active seafarer's welfare workers, port chaplains and ship visitors who are dedicated in assisting seafarers and fishers.
The new site will prove a vital resource for seafarers and fishers who may be in need of help and want to find out more about the service that Helpline has to offer. The website will also be useful in providing seafarers or those wanting to support a seafarer friend or family member with information about the service.
"It is critical that seafarers in distress have access to the help they need when they need it and I would encourage the maritime community organisations and those who work in the wide range of organisations that seek to support seafarers with problems to promote the Helpline 09884140950. Creating a link to the Helpline website from their website would also be very useful in increasing the helpline's visibility for those who need it."
Warm regards
V. Manoj Joy
National Co-ordinator
Sailors Helpline
India
SAILORS HELP LINE
24 Hours Help Line for the Indian Seafarers and their Families.....
(0) 9884140950, sailorshelpline@yahoo.com
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An Interesting Snipet on Mark Twain's Nautical Roots
Editor's Note from Bow Wave Issue 542
It was on the 9th of April in 1859, after two years of apprenticeship,
that 23-year-old Samuel Clemens was granted his steamboat pilot
license. He was a pilot for two years, until the Civil War stopped
traffic on the Mississippi River. And a couple of years after that,
working as a reporter in Nevada, he signed a travel account by
the pen name "Mark Twain." It was a name he picked up from life on
the river, where "mark twain" was used to signify the depth at
which it was safe to pilot a steamboat. He wrote later, "If I
have seemed to love my subject, it is no surprising thing, for
I loved the profession far better than any I have followed since,
and I took a measureless pride in it."
Enjoy!
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U.S. Navy Nabs Pirate Suspects Near Seychelles
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Thu Apr 1, 3:18 pm ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US warship on Thursday captured five suspected pirates who had opened fire from a small boat in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles, the US Navy said.
The skiff was no match for the missile-guided frigate USS Nicholas, which returned fire and quickly chased down the boat.
The Americans took three suspects into custody before sinking the vessel, the US Sixth Fleet said in a statement.
Two more suspected pirates were detained from a "mother ship," and that boat was seized, it said.
The lifting of the winter monsoon in the region has spurred a fresh spate of attacks by pirates able to venture hundreds of miles (kilometers) from their bases and approach their prey on relatively calm seas.
Taipei officials meanwhile said Thursday they feared a Taiwanese fishing boat had been hijacked off Somalia after another was attacked by pirates who wounded an Indonesian sailor.
The 80-tonne Jih-chun Tsai 68 lost contact with its owner as it was sailing in waters off Somalia around 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) Tuesday, the foreign ministry said.
The US frigate reported coming under fire at 12:27 am local time from the suspected pirates, the US Navy said.
"At 1:59 am personnel from Nicholas boarded the disabled skiff and detained three personnel. The boarding team found ammunition and multiple cans of fuel on board."
The navy had yet to decide the legal fate of the detained suspects and did not disclose their nationality.
"We are still evaluating different options" on how to deal with the detainees, Lieutenant Patrick Foughty, spokesman for the Sixth Fleet, told AFP.
"There is an agreement that the US has with Kenya but that's just one of many options our legal team is looking at right now," he said.
The American warship was not part of the US-led coalition carrying out counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, officials said.
In a separate incident, six Seychellois fishermen rescued from Somali pirates were returned home Wednesday after three days of high-seas drama which saw the Seychelles coast guard sink several pirate boats.
The Seychelles economy relies heavily on tuna fishing and tourism and the archipelago has had several ships hijacked since 2008. |
Upcoming Events
May 11 - 14, 2010
AOS Regional Conference for North America and the Caribbean
& The AOS USA National Conference
Sheraton Fallsview Hotel & Conference Center
Niagara Falls, Ontario, CANADA
May 22, 2010
National Maritime Day
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May God Bless you with Smooth Sailing throughout your day! |
Contact Info
Doreen M. Badeaux
Secretary General
Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America
1500 Jefferson Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77642-0646
PH: 409-985-4545
FAX: 409-985-5945
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