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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

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

 

  March 31, 2013
In This Issue
Easter Blessings
Special Hotel Rates ends April 1
Big Debate on US Merchant Marine
Special Evangelization Workshop to be held during Annual Conference!
Other News Items.
Upcoming Events
PrayingHands

    Prayer Requests:

 

For our new Pontiff, Pope Francis that he may shepherd Christ's flock, authentically calling each of us to be imitators of Christ. 

 

 

For our Pope Emeritus Benedict, as he starts his new life devoted to prayer for the Church. May his prayers strengthen & encourage Pope Francis and all of our Church leaders and laity. And may we all remember to send our returned prayers for him.

 

 

For the continued healing and quick recovery of our AOS USA Administrative Board member, Will Watson, who underwent heart surgery last week. 

 

 

For the repose of the Soul of Tom Adams, son of AOS - Diocese of Beaumont Ship Visitor Alvin Adams. May his soul and the soul of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. And May Christ sustain and comfort his family.

 

 


 

 

 

 

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Easter Greetings to all our members and friends
 
The Lord is Risen! He is victorious over sin and death.

On behalf of our Secretary General, Doreen Badeaux, and our Administrative Board, I pray that all of you will have a blessed and holy Easter Season.

Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
President - AOS USA 
AOS-USA Conference
Special Hotel Rates End April 1!
REGISTER NOW!
 
Dear Friends,

Just a friendly reminder that the special conference rate for your hotel will be ending on April 1st!

So....... 

Big Debate On
US Merchant Marine
 

WWII Merchant Marine Logo More than 20,000 US workers leave their families from two to four months at a time to crew our US deep-sea merchant marine fleet. Whether it was bringing much needed gasoline to New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy, supporting our troops throughout the world, or providing much needed food aid to our brothers and sisters in need throughout the world, our US mariners have consistently answered the call.

However, there are always folks who seem to dream of a day that US mariners can be replaced by seafarers from the developing world, so that those who have much, can save more on shipping, and have even more.

Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous critical comments been made about US maritime policies. This is a very important debate for active mariners, the hundreds of cadets and trainees preparing for a maritime career, and the tens of thousands of mariners who work in the oil patch, along our rivers and lakes, and sail our ferries. Because it is important to mariners, it is also  important to AOS USA.

1. Administration to Dismantle U.S. Merchant Marine?:Reduction in cargo preference shipments just the first step.

 

Tony Munoz - Editor Maritime Executive Tony Munoz

February 27, 2013

 

As the administration and Congress continue to batter the American psyche with doomsday terms like "debt ceiling," "fiscal cliff" and "sequestration," the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been busy behind the scenes dismantling the U.S. Merchant Marine. After funding a decade of war and bailing out Wall Street and the banks, a gridlocked and dysfunctional government's only answer to deficit reduction appears to be the shutdown of basic services for its citizens and the gradual elimination of funding for the U.S. Merchant Marine (USSM).


The USMM has served the United States for more than two hundred years and has supported U.S. military operations around the world during every conflict this nation has been involved with. But, to no one's surprise, the White House seems intent on ceasing operations of the USMM. Since taking office, the administration has provided more Jones Act waivers than any other administration and, just a few months ago, it hacked the USMM's percentage of cargo preference shipments of food aid from 75% to 50% before any one even knew what hit them. Now it intends to write the final chapter of the USMM with the scribble of a pen on another backroom deal.


President Obama and DOT Secretary LaHood have never recognized the maritime sector as part of the U.S. infrastructure. They provided MARAD with $433 million while providing air, truck and rail an additional $495 billion to rebuild their systems. Furthermore, the administration ensured that America's Marine Highway would be tabled until 2017 or at least pushed back to the next administration.


So How's That Working Out...?


As part of its deficit reduction plan, the White House wants to send money to starving nations under a new food aid scheme, which includes NGOs overseeing the program.  OXFAM America, an NGO currently campaigning on Capitol Hill to cease buying food from American farmers and end cargo preference laws for U.S. flag operators, received $78 million in revenues and spent $28 million in organizational salaries in 2011.


OXFAM's IRS report says its mission is to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice with local groups in more than 90 nations, which includes giving them cash to buy food. And the NGO says it is campaigning for social justice by participating in meaningful discussions about issues affecting indigenous peoples' families, livelihood and land. Additionally, OXFAM advocates investment in small-scale food producers and modernization of food aid programs as part of its campaign....  

 

READ MORE 

 

2. The End of the U.S. Merchant Marine?

 

 
Denise Krepp By Denise Krep

 

March 12, 2013

 

The U.S. Merchant Marine fleet will be dead in ten years. Food aid lobbyists will convince Congress to eliminate the cargo preference requirements which mandate that government impelled cargo be shipped on U.S. flagged and U.S. crewed vessels. The current Administration will support these cuts to better promote its wind, solar, and nuclear energy programs. The U.S. maritime community must convince  Congress and the Administration that cargo preference and the U.S. mariners who transport this cargo are vital to our national security if it is to avoid this grim prognosis.

 

The U.S. flag fleet's demise is starkly highlighted in Netflix's new series, "House of Cards".  In the show, a Philadelphia shipyard employing over 10,000 people closes without a flicker of concern from the President or Congress. The blithe indifference to angry, unemployed shipyard workers is contrasted by the high-level concern expressed to a teacher's strike. The teacher strike is viewed as extremely volatile political damage that must be successfully resolved; the same angst does not apply to the perceived simple shipyard closure.

 

Sadly, real life politicians appear to be following the lead of their Netflix counterpart. Last summer, the Senate voted 74-19 and the House of Representatives voted 373-52 to cut the food aid cargo preference mandate from 75 percent to 50 percent.  According to the American Maritime Officers, this middle of the night decision, put 16 ships, 640 seagoing jobs, and 2,000 jobs in related sectors at risk. These are the same crews and ships that the Department of Defense uses to transport military equipment and personnel.  Congress had not held any hearings on this subject. The Administration did not oppose it. The massive maritime cuts inserted under a section titled "offsets" were viewed as a simple political decision not worthy of open, transparent discussion.....

 

Read More  

 

3. Watch Tony Munoz & Denise Krep on Maritime TV 

 

4. Watch Clay Maitland of the Marshal Island Registry on the US Merchant Marine Debate  

 

 

 

 
AOS USA Welcomes Catherine of Siena Institute  Associate for Special Evangelization  Workshop
Fr. Gregory Jensen
Orthodox Father, Fr. Gregory Jensen 
 
In response to Pope Benedict XVI's call for a new initiative of evangelization during this Year of Faith, the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America is very excited to have partnered with the  Catherine of Siena Institute to offer a full day workshop on forming intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Catherine of Siena Institute is a program of the Western Dominican Province dedicated to equipping parishes for the formation of lay Catholics for their mission in the world.

The institute provides innovative programs, resources, and leadership training that are faithful to Church teaching and which enable parishes to become dynamic centers of lay discipleship, formation, and mission.

 

Their web site offers resources to assist individuals who are seeking to discern their personal missions, and to help clergy and other pastoral leaders who want to see dynamic Catholic apostles emerge in their parishes.

 

 

Fr. Gregory Jensen is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America (Russian Orthodox), and offers trainings for the Catherine of Siena Institute throughout the US.

Fr. Jensen will draw upon Sherry Weddel's groundbreaking work Forming Intentional Disciples, and will guide participants to reflect on:
  • How intentional discipleship differs from and fosters Catholic identity and is the source of the spiritual life and foundation of effective pastoral ministry.
  • How discipleship makes catechesis a life-changing experience.
  • How to introduce post-modern people to Jesus and the Church.
  • How to recognize pre-discipleship stages of spiritual growth and facilitate spiritual growth in the baptized and non-baptized.
  • How you can share your own personal witness and the "Great Story" of Jesus in gentle, intriguing, and non-threatening ways.
  • How the charisms help spiritual seekers make the journey to intentional discipleship.

Don't delay. Register now by CLICKING HERE 

 

Already Registered, Have You Made Your Hotel Reservations? Cut Off Day is April 1st. Click Here 

Use group code: AOS  

 

Other News Items  

 

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N. 114 2013/1  

  

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N.113 2012/III  

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N.112 2012/II  

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin April 2012 (111)  

   

2012 Easter Message from the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants 

 

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 Conference
April 23 - 26, 2013
Jacksonville, FL
Hotel: Hampton Inn Jacksonville
Conference Venue: Assumption Catholic Church
For more information or to Register Click Here:


National Maritime Day
May 22, 2013

National Day  Prayer and Remembrance
Sponsored by the Apostleship of the Sea
Saturday May 18, 2013
12:10 p.m.
Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Main Celebrant: Most Rev. J. Kevin Boland
Bishop Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea 
 

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