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Prayer Corner
For Fr. Gerard Kenny, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest who is retiring due to health issues. May God keep him in His care.
For Chris Fogarty, AOS USA Mariner Member, and Vice-President who is struggling with health issues related to diabetes. He appreciates the prayers of his AOS USA family.
For those held hostage by pirates throughout the world.
For all those in pirate infested waters that God will protect them.
For those suffering from floods, droughts, tornados, and other harsh weather conditions. May the Peace of Christ sustain them, as they work to rebuild their homes and their lives.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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Meeting St. John and other Tidbits...
 Dear Friends,
There is a great deal of news to report in this edition of the E-News. The Pontifical Council is announcing the next AOS World Congress to be held at the Vatican in November 2012. AOS Baltimore, MD and Lake Charles, LA have exciting updates on the ministry in their local ports, and the AOS Vatican has the latest edition of the Apostolatus Maris Bulletin ready for your review.
This past week in the midst of preparing for AOS USA membership renewals for 2012, we had the crew of the Leo Adventure at the Port of Port Arthur. They were blessed in that they were "stuck" at the Port, waiting to move to the Valero Refinery dock in Port Arthur.
For a merchant ship, being "stuck" unexpectedly in one port is usually a good thing nowadays. The crew had no real work to do, since there was no handling of cargo once they offloaded, so they had plenty of time to visit the Seafarer's Center. On Friday of last week, when they first arrived, they were thrilled to know we had WiFi, and the crew arrived with laptops in hand. Even after the Center closed around midnight, they were found sitting outside the center with their laptops and we learned that our WiFi signal is impressively strong!
We had Celtic Folksinger, Danny O'Flaherty performing at the Center on Friday night, as a benefit for the Center. At one point, the crewmembers enjoyed a special song performed for them by Danny: "The Leavin' of Liverpool" which became "The Leavin' of Philippines" that night! As the guests were introduced to the seafarers, one of them introduced all of us to his wife, who was watching all of us via his laptop on Skype.
What an incredible thing, for this lady to see such hospitality given to her husband from strangers on the other side of the world! And what an incredible thing for our guests who came to hear Celtic Music, and ended up learning about the lives of Seafarers, which really hit home when seeing the young wife of one of them on the other side of a small laptop screen.
The next day, we brought the Captain and Bosun to Mass at St John the Evangelist Church, where Fr Sinclair is Pastor. After Mass, I was preparing to bring them to Wal-Mart, when they disappeared out the front doors. I looked outside to find the Captain directing the Bosun to take pictures of him in front of the Church, in front of the sign, etc.
When I walked up, the Captain told me that in 30 years of sailing, he had only been to Mass onboard ship two times. And that this was the very first time he had ever been to Mass at a Church in the United States.
That struck me as wonderful and indicting all at once. How wonderful that he finally had this opportunity here. But how indicting that only two AOS Chaplains had ever fulfilled this need for him before. It was not because he did not want the sacraments. He was very devout and ready to put Mass before Wal-Mart. Thank God he had experienced two Masses onboard. Whoever those port chaplains were....their work is still remembered and appreciated by this Captain today.
But then came the masterpiece....he told me his name was John, and this Church was the first church he had ever been to with his name... St. John.
I jokingly told him "That must mean that God expects you to be the next St. John." I asked him if he thought his wife would believe that he could someday become a Saint. He said very matter of factly and seriously...."I don't think she would be surprised. Yes... she would believe this." As I chatted with him on the way to Wal-Mart, I decided.....I wouldn't be a bit surprised either.
What an interesting man and an interesting brother in the faith! Once again, I realized that in the course of "doing ministry".... I was the one blessed ....by the strangers in our midst.
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Announcing the XXIII AOS World Congress
November 19-23, 2012
Vatican
World Congress Invitation
8th September 2011
Re: XXIII World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea
I am pleased to announce the celebration of the XXIII World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea and to send some initial information in this regard.
The event, organized by this Pontifical Council, will be held in the Vatican, from 19 to 23 November 2012.
Following the line of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will be held in October 2012, a month before the beginning of our meeting, the theme of our Congress will focus on "new evangelization". Through reflection, prayer and sharing, we will examine the current situation of our apostolate so as "to trace the new methods and means for transmitting the Good News to people in our world today with a renewed enthusiasm" (Lineamenta, Synod of Bishops 2012).
This World Congress is an important moment in the life of the Apostleship of the Sea. We therefore hope to be able to bring together people who, for various reasons, are involved in this pastoral ministry and we are counting on everyone's cooperation to make this event a successful one.
In the near future we will forward additional information regarding the accommodations in Rome and the necessary documentation to allow you to prepare well for the Congress.
Sincerely Yours,
+ Antonio Maria Veglio
President
+ Joseph Kalathiparambil
Secretary
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Apostolatus Maris Bulletin
(N. 109, 2011/III)
The next edition of the Apostolatus Maris Bulletin from the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People is below as a link.
This edition has a great deal of information about World Maritime Day and this year's issue of Piracy. Please read to know more about the world wide work of the Apostleship of the Sea.
Apostolatus Maris Bulletin No 109
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Rome Hosted World Maritime Day Parallel Event
October 17, 2011
The Palazzo Colonna in Rome was the venue for the 2011 IMO World Maritime Day Parallel Event, on 13 and 14 October 2011, focusing on this year's World Maritime Day theme - "Piracy: orchestrating the response".
On 13 October, a seminar was organized, with sessions devoted to "Anti-Piracy Measures and Best Practices" and "International Co-operation against Piracy".
Among those addressing the meeting were Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, IMO Secretary-General; Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO; Vice Minister Roberto Castelli, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Italy; Undersecretary Alfredo Mantica, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy; Admiral Bruno Branciforte, Chief of the Italian Navy; Vice Admiral Marco Brusco, Commandant of the Italian Coast Guard; and representatives from other organizations, including, inter alia, the United Nations World Food Program and the Apostleship of the Sea.
In his closing remarks, Secretary-General Mitropoulos thanked the Government of Italy and the Italian Shipowners' Confederation for successfully hosting the 2011 edition of the World Maritime Day Parallel Event, and for organizing such an insightful and stimulating programme of events, adding that, as this seminar had confirmed, much more needs to be done if the ultimate goal of consigning piracy to the realms of history is to be achieved.
On 14 October, various activities took place around the Civitavecchia harbor, including a live link to the Italian destroyer Andrea Doria, which is taking part in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Operation "Ocean Shield", NATO's contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. A second live link allowed participants to connect with the Italian Coast Guard Operational Centre, where piracy alerts are received.
IMO Secretary-General Mitropoulos said:
"The successful conclusion of this year's World Maritime Day Parallel Event has once again highlighted the need for all forces to come together to combat the scourge of modern-day piracy. In the past two days both policy and practical issues have been addressed that continually need to be developed in order for seafarers to once again be able to carry out their duties at sea without the risk of being attacked by pirates."
Courtesy: The Maritime Executive
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Lake Charles Seafarers' Center celebrates World Maritime Day
Courtesy: Deacon Patrick LaPoint
AOS Lake Charles, LA
The Lake Charles, Louisiana Seafarers' Center celebrated a special Mass on the occassion of World Maritime Day.
Bishop Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, presided over the Mass with Fr. Rommel Tolentino, AOS Port Chaplain, con-celebrating. Fr. Ruben Buller, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Deacon Patrick LaPoint, Director of the Center, and AOS USA Treasurer reported that Bishop Provost contacted him prior to world maritime day, asking to say Mass at the Center on that day. When the Bishop learned that September 29th was not only the Feast of the Archangels, but also World Maritime Day, he was very pleased and opted to use the Mass of Our Lady Star of the Sea for this special day.
The Mass was held at 12 noon. Several people from various parts of the maritime community and the community at large attended. There was standing room only.
Altar servers from Immaculate Conception Cathedral School were in attendance to serve at this special Mass.
Special prayers were said to ask for an end to piracy throughout the world.
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Archbishop O'Brien dedicates expanded Seafarers' Center
(AOS USA congratulates Msgr John L. FitzGerald and his team with AOS Baltimore on their expansion project!)
By Lisa Harlow
Special to The Review
DUNDALK - Clergy, volunteers, donors and friends gathered Oct. 15 to celebrate the dedication and ribbon cutting for the newly renovated and expanded Apostleship of the Sea Stella Maris International Seafarers' Center. Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien presided over the prayer service and blessed the center's new chapel and outdoor monument.
The Seafarers' Center offers sacramental and welcoming services to the more than 12,000 seafarers passing annually through the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. With the expansion, the center gained the chapel, as well as a new walled patio, lounge and clothing room.
Bentley attended the prayer service, along with Peter Davio, state deputy of the Maryland State Council Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters national regent-elect Anne Nelson and the Knights of the Columbus Color Guard.
The Apostleship of the Sea is vital to seafarers, who are away from home nine to 10 months out of the year, living and working in conditions often not up to U.S. standards. They rely on the ministry to communicate with loved ones, get access to medical care and shop.
In his homily during the prayer service at St. Rita Parish, across the street from the center, Archbishop O'Brien referred to the day's Gospel reading.
"The Apostleship of the Sea," he said, "is a charity that is not calculating. 'I will give you food. I will give you rest.' We give because we see in that stranger the image of God. We give because of our faith.
"The Apostleship of the Sea and its headquarters is a constant reminder to us of what our daily life should be. This is a monument on behalf of those who will not find charity anywhere else," he continued.
"We're all about helping the seafarers of today's treacherous maritime environment," said Monsignor John L. FitzGerald, executive director and chaplain of the archdiocese's Apostleship of the Sea ministry.
Referring to the entrance to the Seafarer's Center, which reads "welcome," he said, "When they see that window of 24 languages and scripts, they know they are not strangers. They are welcome."
In addition to offering Mass and confession, the center has a stock of religious items - free to the seafarers - such as Bibles, scapulars, medals, prayer cards and rosaries.
Visitors can also take advantage of other free offerings, including Wi-Fi computer access, printers, fax service, televisions and telephones. Secular and non-secular books and magazines, as well as men's clothing and toiletries, coffee, snacks and first aid items, are available. International calling cards can be purchased and used to call home.
Amy Middleton, the center's volunteer Administrative Director, says it runs with the help of about 400 monthly donors and the Knights of Columbus.
"The Knights," she said, "supply us with so much - anything we need. They provide us with so much financial support."
If the seafarers cannot leave their ship for any reason, such as an expired shore pass, the center's ship visitors will come to their aid, bringing requested items and wireless Internet so that they can communicate with their families.
Andy Middleton, Amy's husband, is the center's volunteer director of operations. He mans the phone line 24 hours a day, coordinates requests from ships and dispatches the ministry's three vans to take seafarers on shopping trips and other errands. Time is critical, because the men are in town only as long as it takes to offload the ships, 24 hours or less,.
According to Middleton, the two most popular shopping destinations are Walmart and Best Buy.
"They buy electronics, laptops and cameras," he said. "They can buy it cheaper here and take it home with them. One man even bought a bike to take home to his daughter."
The Seafarer's Center currently has 22 volunteers, and it is seeking more to act as ship visitors, center hosts and clerical staff.
"Our goal is to have someone here consistently seven days a week. God willing, we'll have enough volunteers," said Middleton.
The volunteer staff was on hand Oct. 15 to lead guests on tours. Before they went inside, the archbishop blessed the outdoor monument, which thanks the world's seafarers for their efforts and memorializes those who have lost their lives on duty.
The monument's plaque closes with words from Psalm 107: "Blessed are they who go down to the sea in ships."
For more information, please visit www.aosbalt.org. |
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
Houston Maritime Chaplaincy Training Program
Feb. 5-16, 2012
@ Houston International Seafarers' Center
Houston School Application
XXIII World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea
November 19-23, 2012
@ The Vatican
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