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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

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

 

May 19, 2011
In This Issue
President's National Maritime Day Proclamation
Prayer Requests
Apostolatus Maris Bulletin
Chaplains at Maritime Academies
Spring Floods
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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AOS USA encourages all members to honor National Maritime Day in your homeport. Below please find the President's Annual Statement 

  

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Presidential Proclamation--National Maritime Day

NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, 2011

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION


     In times of peace or war, the civilians serving in the United States Merchant Marine have helped keep our Nation safe and prosperous.  We depend on these men and women serving on our ships and tugs, in our ports and shipyards, close to home or far at sea, to connect businesses, service members, and citizens around the world.  On National Maritime Day, we honor their invaluable contributions to America's economic strength and security.

     On May 22, 1819, the SS Savannah completed the first successful voyage by a steam powered ship across the Atlantic, shepherding in a new age of maritime travel and transport.  By the 20th century, the United States maritime trade was booming, fostering exchanges across the world and aiding our military at war.  During World War II, Merchant Marines were critical in providing necessary supplies and services to troops abroad, while suffering an extraordinarily high death rate.  Hundreds of merchant ships fell to enemy action, and nearly one in thirty mariners did not return home.

     United States flag vessels and those who operate them continue to be an integral part of our military operations overseas.  They support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian aid missions and disaster relief efforts.  Without the steadfast commitment of our mariners, our Nation would not be as prepared to deal with unforeseen events, conflicts, or crises.  Their bravery and valor make our waterways safer and more efficient every day.

     Today, our maritime industry is a valuable source of skilled employment for American workers, contributing billions of dollars to our economy.  It is also a critical part of our transportation system.  Last year, my Administration implemented "America's Marine Highway Program," an effort that enables American businesses to participate in improving the safety and environmental sustainability of our waterways.  Our mariners' continued work is helping American industry remain competitive in the global economy, pushing us toward a more prosperous and free 21st century.

     The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2011, as National Maritime Day.  I call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance and to display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their communities.  I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.


BARACK OBAMA

Prayers for our AOS USA Family

We have had a number of requests for prayers in recent days:

 

 

 

Fr Sinclair Oubre - AOS USA President:

 

 

 

Fr Sinclair was in an accident on his motorcycle on Tuesday. He broke his left leg pretty badly. The tibia broke just below the knee, and was protruding just beneath the skin but didn't break through the skin. They did surgery to put in a plate and screws, and he will have to be off his leg entirely for 8 weeks.

 

He will likely be sent home from the hospital tomorrow, but will not be climbing any gangways for a while.

 

He did recommend to the Doctor that he could be the consumate mariner and get a peg leg, but the doctor opted to fix the leg with the plate instead.

 

 

Fr. Tom Falkenthal - Board Member:

 

 

 

Fr. Tom has had been experiencing tachycardia and arrythmia, with his heart rate running between 120 and 135.  So far, no medications are working, and he asks his AOS USA family to pray for him.

 

 

 

Deacon Glenn & Pat Teske - AOS Green Bay:

 

 

Deacon Glenn and his wife Pat were in a major auto accident just prior to the AOS USA Annual Conference. They believe that seat belts truly saved their lives.  The next week, Glenn had a heart attack. It is not known if it was related to the accident or not.  Glenn still has some discomfort but is on the mend.

 

 

 

 Please keep these and all our AOS USA family in prayer!


 

 

 

 Apostolatus Maris Bulletin:

Newsletter from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People

 

Please click the following link to view the latest news from the International office of the Apostleship of the Sea:

 

http://aos-usa.org/files/bol107-eng.pdf

 

Catholic Chaplains at Maritime Academies

A Message from the AOS USA Vice President

 

Fellow Members,

 

I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to a matter that may be of interest to you all.

 

One of the highlights of our recent Membership Meeting in Duluth, MN was the daily concelebrated Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish. Seeing our very own priests and deacons in their AOS stoles assisting a different bishop each day in this little gem of a church was truly inspiring.

 

I was so impressed with this sight that I resolved then and there to make a personal donation of an AOS stole to the Catholic chaplain at my alma mater so that they, too, could come to know our Apostleship. Unfortunately, when I contacted the college to find out who the current Catholic chaplain was, I was told that they do not at present have a Catholic chaplain that serves the college community. In fact, they have no chaplain at all.

 

Some of you may know that I'm a graduate of SUNY Maritime College (1979). Being part of the State University system, we could not have a Newman House on campus, but we did have a Newman Club. During my senior year at Maritime, I was privileged to serve as president of that club. While enrolled there, I had the good fortune to come to know two wonderful priests that acted as our college chaplains.

 

Fr. Robert Grippo (now pastor of St. Theresa Of The Infant Jesus Parish in the Bronx, NY) visited the campus from nearby St. Frances de Chantal Parish to say Mass at our college chapel every Wednesday evening. Fr. Grippo had a tremendous impact on my spiritual development, encouraging me to go on my first guided retreat and introducing me to the practice of charismatic prayer and a wonderful appreciation of Ignatian spirituality. Coming from a public school background supplemented by CCD instruction, this was a real eye-opener for me. Fr. Grippo's guidance during my formative college years continues to inspire me in my Catholic faith even now. I know that I would not be the man I am today if not for his positive influence. And I'm not the only one that Fr. Grippo inspired. I'm proud to say that one of our Newman Club members decided to pursue a religious vocation, took his vows, and started serving in a monastic community shortly after his graduation due in large part to Fr. Grippo's guidance. Truly, Fr. Grippo's influence as a Catholic chaplain made a tremendous impact on the Catholic cadets of SUNY Maritime College.

 

Our other college chaplain, Msgr. Matthews, filled in when Fr. Grippo was unavailable for weekly Mass, and joined us on our Summer Sea Terms (SST) where he said Mass on a daily basis. There were many times during those cruises that I sought his counsel and advice. I can tell you that having a priest on board for the duration of the sea term was an invaluable asset not only for myself but for the entire cadet corps. But my most prominent memory of Msgr. Matthews was seeing him at the ship's rail every morning and evening, praying the Divine Office and smoking his pipe. By witnessing this daily devotion, I came to understand and appreciate Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing."

 

Through the actions and prayers of these two holy men of God, the student body of SUNY Maritime College was well served ... at least when I was attending there. The Catholic culture that I knew and loved so much then is missing on campus today. I'm saddened to know that the entire student body of my alma mater has no spiritual guidance, either ashore or at sea.

 

I'm certain that SUNY Maritime is not an isolated occurrence, and that similar situations exist at the rest of our Maritime Colleges throughout the United States. Take a moment today to pray for our seafarers in training, and for all People of the Sea. If you live close to a Maritime campus, stop by for a visit and talk to the cadets. Plant a seed about our ministry and, if they're receptive, invite them to become Student/Cadet Members. Remember, reaching out to these fine young men and women now may also make them excellent candidates for active membership in the Apostleship later.

 

SUNY Maritime is presently looking for a chaplain to fill the vacancy. This is a unique opportunity for the Apostleship of the Sea to become involved in promoting the qualifications of a local priest who would be familiar with the Maritime Industry. A Cruise Ship Priest interested in becoming a college chaplain has the added incentive of accompanying the student body, which he would have ministered to throughout the school year, for the Summer Sea Terms on the school training ship. We have already suggested that AOS commence a dialogue with the college's administration to ensure that someone is placed soon, and our AOS National Director has offered to make the initial contact. God willing, we'll have a Catholic chaplain in place before the beginning of the next semester.

 

And there will finally be someone there to accept the gift of an AOS stole.

 

Fair winds and following seas,

Chris.

 

Christopher Wm. Fogarty

Vice President / Mariner Member

Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America

 

Email: [email protected]

Cell:    (713) 471-7366

 

 



 

Workboat Magazine updates on Spring 2011 Floods 

Courtesy Workboat.com
5/17/2011

Barge operators expect to take a revenue hit as a result of the high water that is delaying barge traffic in various locations along the Mississippi River system. The full economic fallout won't be known for some time because it will take weeks for the river system to return to normal. WorkBoat.com is following the high water as it moves down the Mississippi River towards New Orleans where it was expected to crest at near 17.5 feet. 

 
  
A barge tow plies the Mississippi River in New Orleans on May 16, where the river gage registered 16.98 feet, just below the 17 foot flood stage. CREDIT: David Krapf
  

Here is a wrap-up of what you can find on the site so far:

Business as usual at Port of New Orleans

Watch as WorkBoat editor David Krapf reports on the high water from the New Orleans riverfront  

Morganza Spillway opened for the first time since 1973 

Real time water level of the Mississippi River at New Orleans, Corps of Engineer's dock at river mile 102.8 (Carrollton gage) 

Colonel Ed Fleming of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discusses the opening of the spillway 

Watch as the Morganza Spillway is opened 

View images from NASA of the Spillway 

Ken Hocke and Dale DuPont look at the impact the floods are likely to have on barge operators' bottom lines 

See footage of barge tow in high-water conditions around Memphis 

New Orleans braces for possible barge-related levee and flood damage 

Floodwaters shutdown Conrad's Louisiana shipyards 

Ken Hocke says the Army Corps has tough decisions to make 

 

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

  

             

 

 National Maritime Day: May 22, 2011.

Sea Sunday: Jul 10, 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