AOS USA 3 colored logo
AOS USA Maritime Updates 

The Professional Association of Catholic Mariners and the Official Catholic Organization for Cruise Ship Priests and Catholic Maritime Ministers.

 

April 29, 2011
In This Issue
Important information re: Cruise Ship Priest Program
Cruise Ministry - What is it all about?
Conference reminders
Instructions for AOS Donations
PrayingHands 

     Prayer Corner 
 
 

 

In thanksgiving for the lives of Deacon Glenn Teske and his wife Pat (AOS Green Bay). They were in a major auto accident last Friday and credit God and seat belts for their lives.

 

 

Pray for the cousin of Fr. Frederico D'Souza, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest. His cousin has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

 

 

Fr. D'Souza thanks his AOS family for praying for his sister who is know recovered and doing well!

 

  

For our mariner member, Jon Furukawa, during his deployment in Iraq.

For those held hostage by pirates throughout the world.

 

For all those in pirate infested waters that God will protect them.

  

 For the people of Japan recovering from the effects of Earthquake and Tsunami, and Nuclear radiation.

 

 

For the people of Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast, who were affected by the tsunami, especially Fishermen, Mariners and Coastal families who rely on the sea for their livelihood.

 


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Important Information regarding the Cruise Ship Priest Program

 

  

Dear Friends,

Over time, we have relayed some of the issues we have faced with the Cruise Ship Priest Program since December 2009.  Last year during our Annual Meeting, we discussed this in depth with the membership. AOS USA eventually agreed to continue the program through the year 2011, in order to give time for the Ad Hoc Committee of the USCCB to study the issues. Just last week, we received a response.

Attached is the response from the USCCB regarding questions raised in March of 2010. This response will have a significant impact on the Cruise Ship Priest Program, and the long-term relationship between AOS USA and the AOS Bishop Promoter, the AOS National Director, and the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church. Though the letter is clear on what the USCCB would like AOS USA to do, it is not so clear as to the future relationship between the two. When we gather next week in Duluth, both the Administrative Board, and the general membership will be discussing this change in course.

As AOS USA president, I would like to make one comment on the tone of the letter. The letter seems to imply that over the years, AOS USA has taken unilateral actions that have inappropriately entangled the USCCB, its departments or personnel with AOS USA.

AOS USA has never made any major decision that was not done in conjunction with, through the encouragement of, or with the permission of the AOS Bishop Promoter and/or the AOS National Director.

The AOS USA organization was founded in 1976 through the initiatives of the AOS Bishop Promoter, Bishop Rene Gracida, and AOS National Director, Msgr. Jim Keating.

The re-writing of the present AOS USA constitution was done at a meeting between myself and the National Director at that time, Fr. John Jamnicky, reviewed by the Bishop Promoter, Bishop Howze, and later approved by the membership. Finally, it was the AOS National Director and the Committee on Migration that approached AOS USA to oversee the Cruise Ship Priest Program in 2003.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
President - AOS USA
 

Please click on the link to review the letter:

http://aos-usa.org/files/USCCB_Response_Apr14_2011.PDF

 

 
 

 

Doreen Badeaux photo 

Ministry onboard Cruise Ships:  What's it all about?

Is it really just a free cruise?

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

I wanted to share a few thoughts with each of you about the Cruise Ship Priest Program. We are constantly receiving letters, e-mails and phone messages giving sincere thanks for the Cruise Ship Priest Program, and for those priests who give of their time, and their own personal funds to carry out this ministry.  (Oh YES!  Our priests are responsible for their own travel to the ships, and for many of their other travel needs. It is not a "free" cruise.)

 

While it may seem to many that it is simply a cheap way to get a vacation, the ministry onboard is very real.

 

One of our priests onboard a cruise this past Christmas had to deal with the death of a 3 year old passenger. The parents of the child were separated and the Father took the child on the cruise, though the Mother really did not want her to go. At some point, while off the ship in port, the child drowned in a pool.  The man who found the child approached the priest after Midnight Mass, really needing to talk.  And of course, the priest was also dealing with the grieving Father as well. This doesn't sound like a "free vacation" does it?

 

Meanwhile, one of our priests on another ship was dealing with a grieving crew, who lost one of their crewmembers to suicide. All the while, the crew had to go on with their best smiles and Christmas cheer for the passengers.  The priest was able to celebrate a Memorial Mass for the deceased crewmember, at the express request of the crew. They certainly felt the importance of having the priest onboard.

 

Another priest onboard a ship for over a month, had enough time to instruct an older gentleman who wanted to come into the Church. He Baptised the man while onboard, and it was a moving and meaningful experience for all those who formed a faith community while onboard.

 

Here are a few comments from letters we recently received:

 

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely cruise on Holland America where we met Fr. Lloyd Rebeyro. We must tell you how wonderful, and meaningful, it was to have a priest onboard and access to the Sacraments.

 

Father was excellent as he successfully reached out to crew and guests with the end result....no surprises here...of well attended, crowded Masses! It was joyful to meet other Catholics and share our faith in daily Mass attendance in addition to Sunday Mass.

 

His homilies were interesting and inspiring, as one hopes a homily will bee, as he provided insight into scriptures and ways of applying the teachings to our daily lives.

 

He was a delight to encounter socially and beautifully represented our faith. We were sad to say our good byes to him and hope to cruise with him again. 

 

We want to thank you, so much, for your concerns for all aspects of well beeing for those onboard. Please continue to be innovative in your decisions for guests and maintain a priest on the high seas!

 

- Karen & Tomm O'Leary - Oklahoma

 

 

 

On behalf of our Cruise Director, I would like to personally thank you for the services Fr Mani offered on this cruise. He went above and beyond requirements to ensure that something special was provided for our guests.

 

It was a pleasure working with him and hopefully we will have the opportunity to work together with Fr Mani again on another Royal Caribbean ship.

 

- Activities Manager

Liberty of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International

 

 

AOS USA sees the real value of the Cruise Ship Priest Program.  It is an opportunity to serve crewmembers, staff and passengers. It is an opportunity for people to encounter their Church in a vibrant way, and it is a unique opportunity for evangelization.

 

We appreciate your prayers as we discern the future of this program. 

 

May Our Lady Star of the Sea guide us,

Doreen M. Badeaux

Secretary General

 

 

AOS USA Conference

 

The AOS USA Annual Meeting will be held from May 3-6, 2011, in Duluth, Minnesota.

 

If you have not yet registered, please do so right away. To register, click the following link:

 

AOS USA Conference Registration 

 

We hope to see you there!

 


Book your hotel for the Conference today!

 

The Inn on Lake Superior

1-888-668-4352

 

The Inn on Lake Superior will play host to AOS USA's tenth annual conference.  

To call for reservations, call 1-888-668-4352. We have a room block from May 2-May 6. Be sure to tell them you are with the Apostleship of the Sea USA conference.  


Barclift, Fr RichardVacation Substitute for Port Chaplains


 

My name is Father Dick Barclift.  I offer to substitute for vacationing Port Chaplains.

 

I am trained, certified, have my TWIC card and current credentials and I have the support of my local Bishop. I am also a Cruise Ship Priest Member of AOS USA.

 

For more information and inquiries contact me at:

 

Fr. Dick Barclift

Catholic Diocese of Peoria in Illinois

110 19th Street #205

Rock Island, IL  61201

PH: 309-737-5353

[email protected]

 

  

 

Instruction to remit donations for the

AOS special Fund for the victims of tsunami in Japan

 

In USA dollars

 

BANK:           JP MORGAN CHASE BANK

ADDRESS:    4 CHASE METRO TECK

                        7th Floor 11245 Brooklyn

                        New York

 

COD. SWIFT:     CHASUS33XXX            

ABA ROUTING NR: 021000021

 

ACCOUNT NUMBER:  001 - 1 - 975 000

 

BENIFICIARY:

ISTITUTO PER LE OPERE DI RELIGIONE

(Cod. Swift: IOPRVAVXXXX)

00120 CITTA' DEL VATICANO

 

Details of payment: Pontificio Consiglio Migranti -  account no. 22 52 70  14

 

*******************

 

In Euros

 

BANK:           JP MORGAN  - CHASE BANK

ADDRESS:      14, JUNGHOFSTRASSE

60311 FRANKFURT AM MAIN

BLZ 50110800

 

IBAN:             DE81501108006231606168

CODICE SWIFT: CHASDEFXXXX

 

BENEFICIARY:

ISTITUTO PER LE OPERE DI RELIGIONE (IOR)

00120 Citt� del Vaticano

 

Details of payment: Pontificio Consiglio Migranti - account no. 22 52 70 13

 

Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members

  

             

AOS USA 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.

 

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