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Prayer Corner
For all of our Members and supporters who are ill, and those who may find the Christmas season lonely. May the Joy of the Christ Child fill their hearts and give them renewed hope & joy!
For Fr. Joe Pusateri, retired AOS Port Chaplain who has asked for his AOS Family's prayers while going through illness.
For all Mariners at sea or otherwise away from home, family and loved ones during the Advent & Christmas Seasons. May they feel the presence of Christ with them, and may they experience the true meaning of Christmas through the interactions of those shipmates, port chaplains, and even total strangers that they encounter throughout the season. May they also remember to be Christ-bearers & witnesses of the Good News to their shipmates.
For our Gulf Fishers, Shrimpers, Crabbers and Oystermen, that God will bless them with a fruitful harvest this year.
For all those in pirate infested waters that God will protect them. For those who have fallen into piracy, that they will find better, honest ways of sustaining their families, and turn away from a life of crime. |
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 AOS USA Wishes each of you a Blessed & Merry Christmas!
On behalf of myself, the Administrative Board of AOS USA, and our mighty staff of one, Doreen, we wish each of you a Blessed & Merry Christmas & a Peaceful, Prosperous New Year!
We thank you for the gifts and talents that you share with us and with the People of the Sea throughout the year. We are richer for your presence with us, and sincerely ask God to bless you and your loved ones.
Please read the beautiful Christmas message from the Pontifical Council and the articles below.
Fr. Sinclair |
 2010 Christmas Message from the Pontifical Council for Migrants & Itinerants
(Editor's Note: The Pontifical Council oversees the work of the Apostleship of the Sea throughout the world. During this most Holy Advent & Christmas Season, we ask you to join us in praying for them that they may continue to shepherd our AOS Family throughout the world with wisdom and with the love of the Christ Child.)
Dear Friends,
Once again, Christmas is knocking at our doors with its music and traditions that evoke sentiments of love and goodness. They remind us of intense moments of religiosity and faith and create a deep nostalgia for the family celebrations which we cannot always attend.
Often, on this occasion, one feels even lonelier, especially many of you who will spend this great feast of our Christian essence far from the family and a civil and religious community, together with people of different faiths.
With this message, I wish to extend to all of you the angel's glad tidings to the shepherds: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy...For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord" (Lk 2:10-11).
As they did then, the angels repeat to each one of us today: Do not be afraid before life's difficulties, do not be discouraged by the problems you have to face every day because you are not alone any more. Christ the Lord who comes at Christmas is Emanuel, the God-with-us.
He accompanies us on our daily path and gives us the strength and courage to build a better world with less hatred and more Love.
He listens to our sorrows, sees our sufferings and instills joy and serenity in us through the gift of the family and sincere friends.
He loves us. We can dialogue with him through prayer and we can entrust our concerns to him.
The angels also bring a message of peace to the shepherds and sing: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Lk 2:14). However, so many wars, injustices and acts of violence continue to affect our world. At Christmas we understand in a special way that peace is a gift of God and that what is most important is to welcome it.
I hope you will welcome God's peace in your hearts which are so often disturbed by uncertainty about the future, the concern about being criminalized or abandoned in a foreign port, and the fear of pirates and a stormy sea.
I also hope that your family members who anxiously await your return to live moments of joy and happiness together will welcome Christ's peace in their hearts and feel brighter because on this Christmas you are not alone. Together with you there is the Church which through the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea responds to your needs. And there is Mary, the Star of the Sea, who guides you and shows you the way to follow to meet Emanuel, the God-with-us.
Sincere best wishes for a Holy Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cordially yours,
Antonio Maria Vegliņ
President
Rev. Gabriele Bentoglio
Under-Secretary
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Apostolatus Maris Bulletin
http://aos-usa.org/files/bol106-eng.pdf
Please read the latest edition of the Apostolatus Maris Bulletin from the Pontifical Council: |
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 Christmas onboard a Cruise Ship
As most of us prepare to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, we look forward most of all to celebrating the Christmas Mass. Many of our priests, deacons and active laity are busily helping to prepare the Church and the liturgy.
So what happens at sea? One of our Cruise Ship Priests is currently onboard the Celebrity Solstice and wrote in to tell about how their preparations are going. Read on....
I am on the SOLSTICE. Daily mass each morning.
The Cruise Director and Activity Manager are both very helpful. I met the Captain as I was walking around the ship in my clerical attire. He stopped me...introduced himself ...gave me his card and said that if I needed anything I was to contact him.
We are getting organized for a large crowd at the Midnight Mass in the Theatre...though there are no missellets ...so I am picking some from my Capuchin friends in Puerto.
One reading will be in Spanish. The gifts will be brought to the altar by a newly married couple from Chile. The second reading will be read by a Chinese lady from Toronto. And we will have 5 Eucharistic Ministers.
We're expecting a large crowd, including the Captain, and I will thank him publically for his kindness and graciousness.
Regards
Fr Lloyd Rebeyro
AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest
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 Christmas at the Dock
And Christmas Mass goes on in port, thanks to many Port Chaplains who leave their families for part of the holiday celebrations, and continue to provide the Sacraments to the crews who are in port.
Here is an update from Fr. Jim Boyd, AOS Port Chaplain in San Diego, who continues to care for the crew of the crippled Carnival Splendour. Read on.....
Mass is now being celebrated on Saturday or Sunday,6 PM,aboard the Carnival Splendor.
Sunday,12 December, Bob Condes,went with me to help me set up for Mass. Bob is a wonderful maritime minister who so generously gives of his time to visit the seafarers.
Fifty six people attended the Mass. At first the lighting was not working so I started Mass with a flashlight but the lights went on when the time came for the readings. Thanks be to God!
Father Jim Boyd
AOS Port Chaplain
San Diego
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members!- Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program: February 20-March 4, 2011. Download application at:
http://aos-usa.org/files/Houston%20School%20Application%202011.pdf - Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America Annual Conference
When: May 3-6, 2011
Where: Duluth, Minnesota
Focus: Connecting Great Lakes Seafarer Welfare Agencies with US and Canadian Lakers and Their Crews
- National Maritime Day: May 22, 2011.
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