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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

The Professional Association of Catholic Mariners, Cruise Ship Priests and Catholic Maritime Ministers.

 

February 27, 2012
In This Issue
Prayer request for Costa Allegra
Costa Allegra Adrift after Fire
Notes from our Members
Resource Links
Upcoming Events
PrayingHands 

     Prayer Requests:

  

The repose of the soul of Noreen Horkan, sister of Fr. Austin Cribbin, Cruise Ship Priest.

  

Fr. John Olsavsky, Cruise Ship Priest, who has a bad infection in the leg.

 

 

Fr. Felix Petrovsky, Cruise Ship Priest, who is recovering from a stroke. 

 

 

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  Prayer Request for Passengers, Staff & Crew of Costa Allegra

 

 Dear Friends,

 

We have learned that the Costa Cruise Line has suffered yet another blow today. The Costa Allegra suffered a fire in the generator room and is now adrift in the Seychelles in an area known for piracy.

 

Please keep all passengers, crew and staff in your prayers. In a particular way, we ask prayers for the priest onboard, who will be needed to help calm people's nerves during a tumultuous time.

 

Our Lady Star of the Sea, protect and guide them.

 

Doreen

 

  

 

Costa Ship Adrift After Fire

Courtesy: Associated Press

ROME-An Italian ship owned by the same company as the stricken Costa Concordia has gone adrift in the Indian Ocean following a fire onboard the vessel.

The fire broke out Monday in the generator room of the cruise ship, the Costa Allegra, leaving it adrift off the Seychelles, but causing no casualties among the passengers or crew, the Italian coast guard and the ship's owner said.

Coast Guard Cmdr. Cosimo Nicastro told SkyTG24 TV that the ship's captain told Italian authorities the blaze was quickly extinguished.

"The passengers are fine," Cmdr. Nicastro said. However, the blaze left the cruise liner "without propulsion," meaning the ship, with 636 passengers and 413 crew members, was adrift in the sea. "The fire danger is over," Cmdr Nicastro said.

The ship's owner, Costa Crociere SpA, which is based in Genoa, Italy, said in a statement that the ship was about 20 miles from Alphonse Island, one of the atolls in the Seychelles, a nation of islands and atolls that is a popular tourist destination.

The Allegra fire came six weeks after another Costa liner, the Concordia, struck a reef off a tiny Tuscan island in Italy and capsized, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing and presumed dead. The Concordia's captain is under arrest and several other officials are under investigation. When the Concordia listed to one side, many people hadn't been evacuated on life boats and some jumped into the sea.

Costa said the fire on the Allegra broke out in the ship's electric generator room.

"The shipboard fire-extinguishing system and procedures were promptly activated and the special firefighting units intervened to extinguish [the] fire," Costa's statement said.

"The fire did not spread to any other area of the ship. There were no injuries or casualties," Costa said. It did not say what caused the fire.

And now, a few words from our Members...

(Editors note: We appreciate hearing from you our members and readers, who let us know when you appreciate articles in the E-News. It helps us to know when we are getting it right, and printing information of real value to you. Thank you for the insights and input!)

 

 

Dear AOS-USA,

I really appreciate the updates and the perspective not available in the commercial media.

I am representing AOS for the first time one month from now on a Holland America cruise. It has been a challenge to explain to my parish that I will be "working" and not "on vacation." These stories have helped to increase the awareness of the ministerial needs, not only of vacationing passengers, but of the crew who depend on us for their sacramental and pastoral needs. I have been including some of the petitions in our Prayers of the Faithful which also serve to increase awareness. This is only possible because of the wonderful way you keep us informed, especially those of us very new to the program.

I am excited about my upcoming trip. When I read in the last newsletter how the Catholic chaplain was even asked to participate in Ramadan prayers for the Muslim community, I was even more excited. I can take a vacation anytime (and I choose to be on vacation when I am on vacation!) but to have this kind of ministerial/ecumenical opportunity is a gift.

Fr. Gary Padgett

 

Dear AOS-USA, 

Thank you for the information regarding the Chaplain's role on the sinking ship. It shows the importance of Chaplains when difficulty and tradegy occurs.

Fr. Michael J. Healy

 

 

Dear AOS-USA,

I have been praying for all those involved with the Costa Concordia tragedy...and communicated to my bishop about the Chaplain who first went to the Chapel, to pray and consume the Blessed Sacrament, and then put the valuables away, etc....He made me tell this at the priest's gathering. We all apprecaite what AOS does for seafarers, cruise ships etc...

Fr. John Muscat

 

  
Other News Items  

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin December 2011 (110) 

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin Sept 2011 (109) 

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin July 2011 (108)   

 

Audio Report: No Pirates of the Caribbean - Vatican Radio (December 7, 2011) 

 

Piracy video from Lloyd's List 

 

 

Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members

  

             

AOS-USA Annual Meeting

Houston, Texas

May 15-17, 2012  

 

XXIII World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea
November 19-23, 2012 
@ The Vatican 

AOS World Congress Invitation 

 

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