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Prayer Corner
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 Lois Badeaux, Doreen's Mom who will have knee replacement surgery on Monday, Oct 31.
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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Thanksgiving and Odds & Ends
 Dear Friends,
I have just returned from a very pleasant post-Thanksgiving motorcycle ride with some of my Knights of Columbus friends. Over the 270 miles we traveled, I had much time to reflect on all the blessings that God bestows on us every day. They truly are awesome, and in most cases come disguised in the forms of other people.
Today, is also Black Friday, which in itself was a great reason to go motorcycle riding. However, only a few thousand folks went motorcycle riding today, while millions filled the parking lots of malls and box stores for special sales. In the enthusiasm for the best deal, how many folks gave thanks to God for His blessings that made these sales possible. Specifically, how many folks said, "Thank you God, for the merchant mariner, who has made it possible for me to travel here, and to buy these many items from around the world."
The very fact that so many people were able to drive their cars to shop is a blessing from God, and blessing disguised in the face of mariners from around the world. The blessing are in the faces of the Filipino crew of the Sanko tankers who shuttle Mexican crude to the Port Arthur Velero Refinery every week. The blessings are in the faces of the US merchant mariners who sail the Kirby tugs and barges along our intracoastal canal system, delivering the refined products to terminals along our inland waterways. The blessings are also disguised in the faces of the US marines on the Seabulk Artic, who shuttle gasoline, jet fuel and diesel from Port Arthur to the East Coast every ten days. If it were not for these blessings disguised as seafarers, there would never be a Black Friday, because you just can't carry a 51' TV on a bicycle. However, even that 51' TV was a blessing disguised as a seafarer on a container ship arriving at the Port of Long Beach.
Yesterday, we gave thanks for God's many blessings. Today, we can also give thanks for all God's blessings that come to us disguised in forms that we may not recognize unless we are paying attention.
My prayers are that you and yours have had a blessed Thanksgiving, and the Advent Season, which will begin this weekend, will be a holy time of preparation for the coming of our Lord.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
President
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Pope Mourns 240 Drowned in Zanzibar
VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 16, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is expressing his condolences for the victims of a tragedy off the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. An overloaded ferry leaving Zanzibar for the adjacent island of Pemba capsized in the early hours of Saturday after apparently losing power. The ferry was carrying as many as 800 people, of whom nearly 250 drowned. The Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, sent a telegram expressing the Holy Father's sadness and his closeness to those affected by the tragedy. The telegram gives assurances of his prayers asking consolation for those who suffer, and for all the people of Tanzania. Click Here for news and details of the tragedy |
Vatican's Council for Migrants
Opens Web Site
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 3, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers has launched a Web site at www.pcmigrants.org.
The multilingual site will give visitors the "Christian vision" for people in varied situations of human mobility -- ranging from refugees to sailors, nomads, airport employees, and people who live and/or work on the street, a note from the council announced.
The framework of the site is in Italian.
This pontifical council has been led since February 2009 by Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliņ.
Click Here for video on new Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants web site.
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Piracy & Cruise Ship Ministry is Subject of RomeReport.com Video  Click Here for vidio link |
Australia Ratifies Maritime Labor Convention 2006, Convention one step closer to coming into force
In Archbishop Veglio's Message for Sea Sunday 2011, the Apostleship of the Sea is called upon to work for the ratification of MLC 2006.
The President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants wrote: "To provide further protection to the people working at sea, we appeal to all national governments to immediately adopt the ILO Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006 and favor its coming into force. Otherwise, it would have only theoretical value, even though it is one of the most significant achievements in the entire history of seafarers' rights."
As I recall these words, we can all give thanks, and celebrate Australia's ratification of the this convention. Maybe one day in the near future the US will also show such concern for international seafarers.
Fr. Sinclair
Union welcome for Australia's maritime convention move
23 November 2011
Australia today became the nineteenth country to ratify the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which enshrines seafarers rights in one single international convention.
The move received an immediate welcome from ITF president and Maritime Union of Australia national secretary, Paddy Crumlin. He stated: "The convention ensures that seafarers have their human and labour rights recognised alongside existing standards of safety, security and crew standards. By lifting international minimum standards, the MLC promotes fair and decent work, with more than half the world's seafarers now covered by ratifying nations."
He added that the MLC has a role to play in the flag of convenience campaign: "The convention will address the worst features of the FOC system by codifying international safety standards, human rights, trade union rights and labour standards."
ITF seafarers section secretary Jon Whitlow commented: "Australia's ratification takes us one nation nearer to the total of 30 ratifying countries needed to bring this groundbreaking and vital convention into force."
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
AOS USA Administrative Board Meeting
Port Arthur, Texas
November 28-29, 2011
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
AOS World Congress Invitation
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