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Notes from our Members!
Editor's note: Some days, we get emails that really speak for themselves about the ministry that AOS-USA's members are called to. We have some awesome members doing great work. We appreciate each of you!
1 Sept 2012
 | | Fr Jaime Diaz Castaneda |
My experience onboard as a Cruise Ship Priest has been very positive spiritually: time of peace, contemplation, reflection, reading, meeting new interesting people, realizing that we are "Catholic", members of a world community where language, color, culture,etc do not make a difference, global perspective when you deliver your homily, people willing to put their gifts to the service of our transitory community, thanking God for all the beauty of nature, for food, music and all available comfort and for the places visited etc.
A cruise is for me like a retreat. God is present all the time. I increase in valuing my priestly ministry as I hear people grateful for being able to celebrate daily the Holy Eucharist. In the middle of all the comfort and delight of the trip, I rediscover the essential, that is in and beyond all that, and my conviction that we must live soberly, free to arrive any time to our final port.
I experience that the question is not whether to enjoy or not all these things, but how to do it with detachment, without being trapped, able to live in abundance and in scarcity as Paul did, always in thanksgiving. And from the ship to look to the world around, with all its problems and good things, in solidarity specially with those who can never take part on a cruise, but are mistreated, exploited, abandoned, killed and wounded around the world.
In my last cruise took place the strike of workers in the platinum mine in South Africa and the killing of 37 (if I remember well) for the crime of asking for fair wages. This was topic of reflection and awareness with my little community: how often money is more important than people, how exploitation is the way to make profit, how the poor are voiceless, all this with the support of the law, the police and guns in favor of the exploiters! What a scandal when we celebrate fraternity, solidarity and sharing in the Holy Eucharist!
Fr. Jaime Diaz Castaneda
AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest
Florida
20 September 2012
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Rose Kearney
AOS Dublin |
Regarding my endeavours to become acquainted with the "Irish Cruise Ships Priests":
Yesterday I travelled to Ballina to meet with Fr Sean Noone, one of the AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priests living in Ireland. And while time was short, it was a wonderful meeting and he is so willing to do whatever is required on the north- west side ports - not too many of them but nonetheless it is so necessary to have an AOS presence. (Where he lives in Co Mayo you could throw a stone and it would reach the USA)
He was telling me about his various engagements with the seafarers at whatever hour accommodates them and appears so interested in the crew members. It was so obvious how they would relate to him and his willingness to befriend them and I think he would never spare himself and would always make himself available for both passengers and crew.
Rose Kearney
AOS-USA Associate Member
Dublin, IRELAND
14 September 2012
 | | Fr. Maurice "Moe" Pierce longtime Cruise Ship Priest |
Just a note to inform you that our famous Fr. Moe Pierce (Fr Maurice Pierce) is under the weather lately.
He carries around oxygen because of his failing lungs and now his heart is being attended to.
Moe has been a cruise chaplain for a long time. He lived just to take cruises. He was always super joyful telling all about his ministry aboard ...He took it seriously and has acquired many contacts.
He has been generous with this ministry and joyful in carrying it out. It was Moe who introduced me to Apostleship of the Sea.
He is still hanging in but maybe we should recognize his commitment to the sea for long in his retired life.
Blessings to Maurice Pierce !
Thanking you,
Fr. Bill Kornacker
AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest
Windsor Ontario, CANADA
 | | Fr William Lowe |
This last note is written to AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Fr. William Lowe & his wife Linda . Fr. Lowe is one of our priest who was formerly a priest in the Episcopal Church. It is wonderful to see how many of our priests are able to create small faith communities onboard, which keep up with each other once off the ship.
Dear Fr. Lowe,
I have a tale to tell regarding my Cruise.
The ship was going to Southampton via New Zealand. ...Alas, I broke my leg re-embarking at Napier and ended up in Hastings hospital there....it wasn't all gloomy as I had Easter in New Zealand with a lovely mixed population consisting mainly of Islanders...what great faith they had as well.
Tongans, Fijians, Maoris and all the mix of migrants who had settled in New Zealand from all over the world....they are a lovely people....St Vincent de Paul took me under their wing and became instant family...much the same as our Daily Mass crew aboard our cruise ship.
I told everyone on my return about my good fortune having a Priest aboard and what's more he was married and they were a great team...I cannot believe our church has not allowed our own priests to marry at this point when they see the good work that you do...it is a wonder to me that you and Linda came over ....but it is the church's gain that you did.
Without going onto detail, I am in need of your prayerful support right now...will tell you more at a later date...
Once again, so happy to hear from you...I am not in touch with anyone else but think ,fondly, of Mary who declared herself your 'altar girl'....
Love from here to you both,
Elizabeth
Cruise Passenger | 
