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Prayer Requests:
For Fr. Tim Brien
AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest in Wales who is ill. He appreciates the prayers of his AOS Family.
For Deacon Sam Martinez AOS - San Diego. He has had 2 heart attacks, and blood clots in the brain. Deacon Jim Boyd requests that we please keep Deacon Sam in prayer for hearling.
Deacon Jim Boyd, AOS San Diego is also ill, with infections in his leg. Please keep him in your prayers for healing. Pray too for the ministry in San Diego which is struggling under these health issues.
For the repose of the Soul of Fr. Jim Moore, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest from Albuquerque. Fr. Moore faithfully served onboard Cruise Ships for many years. We are truly saddened to lose him. We know he goes to a great reward.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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HOPE!
Dear Friends,
While working on this article today, an old acquaintance stopped by. He's been out of work for 4 months, and in the midst of a meandering conversation, he suddenly announced that he was having a crisis of Faith. In the past, he moved back and forth between being Catholic, considering being a Baptist preacher, and then an Episcopalian. He always came back to calling himself Catholic after each swing, but never really sunk his teeth into any Faith or indeed into spirituality. And each time he professed to be Catholic, or Baptist or Episcopalian, he seemed to be following the lead of someone else that he admired at the time. So rather than committing to his Faith, he seemed to be trying to emulate someone else. Sadly, now that he has been without work, he seems to be doubting God entirely, though he has never really entirely said yes to God. So today, I saw a man who is losing the little seed of Faith that he has, and with that, he is losing Hope.
Last week, we were contacted by a ship docked in Port Arthur whose crew had not been paid for 2 months. One of the crew members had been injured and had not been allowed to go home, though he was not fit for duty. Fr. Sinclair and our local AOS Ship Visitor, Alvin Adams went on-board to get the story and assess the situation. Before we could even contact our local ITF Agent Shwe Aung, Shwe called me, having heard from the ship as well. On Friday, we went back on-board to say Mass for the crew. This time, the atmosphere on-board the ship was markedly different. On Thursday it was tense. By Friday's Mass, the crew was beginning to relax.....because they had a glimmer of HOPE! And during the Mass this sense of HOPE really began to shine...not just glimmer.
HOPE is such an amazing thing. I have begun to think that the Holy Spirit resides in Hope. When one can HOPE, one can get through even the most difficult issues. This HOPE is what our Faith gives us. But we have to nurture our little seeds of Faith in order for Hope to grow.
For the guys on-board that ship, even in the midst of illness, financial worries, and uncertainty, HOPE is freeing them, and helping them to move forward another day. But that HOPE is largely there because they were actively pursuing their inner Faith life already and they allowed themselves to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ when they had the opportunity. They asked us to bring the Mass to them on-board the ship. They took advantage of this rare opportunity to receive the Sacraments while at sea.
In recent years, many port chaplains have noticed that more and more crew-members from traditionally Catholic countries are not going to Mass, or availing themselves of the Sacraments, even when they have the opportunity. We are often told, "We will not have time for Mass. We are in port only for a short while. But can you bring us to Wal-Mart?"
But when things in your life turn upside down, what can Wal-Mart do for you? Meanwhile, if you have been nourishing your Faith life, nourishing you spirit with Jesus Christ, what can topple you?
So whether you are a Port chaplain, Cruise Ship Priest, Lay Ecclessial Minister, a Volunteer at your local Seafarers Center, or a Catholic Mariner, we should all be encouraging those on-board to nourish their Faith. They can do this each day on their own in quiet prayer, or by building small Faith Communities on-board. And when in port, we really must remind them of the importance of receiving the sacraments when they have the opportunity.
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Photo Courtesy: Shwe Aung
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For the guys on-board that ship in Port Arthur last week, the issue is still in the process of being resolved, but these men have nurtured their Faith, and they have Hope to sustain them. They also know that their Church, the ITF and others are looking out for them. They know they are not alone, and they have HOPE that the situation will soon be resolved.
So my prayer for each of you today comes from the words of St. Paul, from Romans Chapter 15: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit."
Doreen M. Badeaux
Secretary General
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APOSTOLATUS MARIS BULLETIN
The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (AOS Vatican) has published a new issue of the Apostolatus Maris Bulletin, just in time for Sea Sunday! Please read it to learn more about the work of the AOS throughout the World.
Special Congratulations goes out to AOS-USA member Karen Parsons as she celebrates 28 years in the AOS Ministry!
Apostolatus Maris Bulletin Bol115
CATHOLIC MARITIME NEWS
Please check out the latest edition of Catholic Maritime News from the AOS at the USCCB.
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A Note from Grateful Cruise Ship Passengers
Recently a cruise ship passenger sent us a note via Facebook to say how thrilled she, her family, and fellow passengers were to have priests on back to back cruises during Lent.
Two of the "parishioners" were deaf, and when the priest realized that, he signed the Mass for them. She was so amazed! And thanked us for our great work. I assured her that though we DID assign the priest to that cruise, we had no idea a deaf couple would be on-board, and that God had really made sure that the right priest had been assigned to that cruise!
My Mom would call that "A God Wink!"
Doreen
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Holland America Hosts Catholic Seafarers Lunch Aboard WesterdamCruise Industry News
Holland America Line hosted a "Home from the Sea" fundraiser luncheon for the Catholic Seafarers' Center aboard ms Westerdam Saturday, June 1, 2013, at the Port of Seattle. The event was attended by the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle, along with Holland America Line President and CEO Stein Kruse and Father Tony Haycock.
Before the luncheon, attendees gathered for an award ceremony where Catholic Seafarers' Center representatives honored several community leaders. In addition, a raffle for a free Holland America Line cruise was held to raise funds for the center. After lunch, guests were invited to tour the ship.
"We're proud to support the Catholic Seafarers' Center and thank them for all they do for our crew members while in Seattle," said Kruse.
"The Catholic Seafarers' Center is a place that mariners of all nations and faiths can find support and services, and it is an important resource for those who work at sea."
"We are grateful to Holland America Line for providing such critical aid to our organization and hosting us on board for this marvelous lunch," said Sartain.
"Thanks to the funds collected today, our staff will be able to provide much-needed resources to those visiting our center." The Catholic Seafarers' Center is a social-service agency in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Its mission is to meet the spiritual and practical needs of seafarers and maritime workers visiting and living in Seattle.
The center provides a number of services to workers coming to the city, including shipping goods on their behalf, arranging transportation and coordinating recreational activities.
Each year, Holland America Line hosts more than 25 shipboard charity luncheons for nearly 5,000 guests in its homeport cities.
In addition, Holland America Line and its corporate foundation's charitable-giving programs provide cash sponsorships, in-kind donations, free- and reduced-fare cruise donations for nonprofit fundraising events, donations of usable shipboard items around the world, employee volunteerism and other philanthropic activities. |
Seafarers Join in Historic Worldwide Eucharistic Adoration
Courtesy: Apostleship of the Sea - Great Britain
By: John Green
Seafarers join in historic worldwide Eucharist Adoration
Last Sunday millions of people around the world took part in an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on the feast of Corpus Christi. Led by Pope Francis Catholic faithful throughout the world took part in their own Cathedrals and churches, and followed the event on television, radio, and the internet.
The Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) also worked to ensure seafarers were able to be a part of this historic event. In the port of Immingham, Great Britain, for example, port chaplain Fr Colum Kelly led Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel of the seafarers' centre (pictured).
Fr Kelly said, 'I was very moved that some seafarers visiting the seafarers' centre, who were only ashore for a few hours, joined our Eucharistic Adoration. It was especially poignant, that seafarers were part of this, given that one of the intentions of Pope Francis was for 'those who experience marginalization'.
Pictures :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apostleshipofthesea/sets/72157633988089220/
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Orthodox Easter on the Waterfront
Courtesy: The Southern Cross & AOS San Diego
 Father Eugene Grushetsky (center), pastor of St. John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Church, poses with (from left) two of his parishioners, the captain of the Super Servant 3, and Father James Boyd, chaplain of the Stella Maris Seafarers Center. Photo Credit: Bob Condes
Father Grushetsky celebrated a Divine Liturgy on May 5, the date that Orthodox Christians observed Easter this year, aboard the Super Servant 3. The cargo ship, which has a crew of Russian and Ukrainian sailors, was docked at the 10th Street Terminal at the Port of San Diego. About 12 of the ship's 22-member crew attended the liturgy. Father Grushetsky also blessed the bridge of the ship. The liturgy was arranged after the captain of the ship contacted the Stella Maris Seafarers Center, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego's outreach to foreign sailors, and requested a Russian Orthodox liturgy for his crew. After the liturgy, the captain and crew had supper with Father Grushetsky and his helpers; Father James Boyd, chaplain of the Stella Maris Center; and Bob Condes, one of the center's volunteers, who also took crew members on a shopping trip. The Orthodox Churches are unique among other Christians in their relation to the Catholic Church in that they possess the fullness of the Church in sacramental and liturgical life. They differ from Catholics mainly over the issue of authority in the Church, including the role and authority of the bishop of Rome. In recent years, however, great strides have been made in Catholic/Orthodox dialogue, which have led to a greater understanding and appreciation of one another, taking small but certain steps toward the restoration of unity. Blessed Pope John Paul II said that the Church needs to breathe with both lungs, East [Orthodox] and West [Catholic], for the Holy Spirit to be more effective in the world. |
Cruise Industry Adopts Passenger Bill of Rights
Courtesy: CruiseCritic.com
by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief
(6 a.m. EDT) -- In a precedent-setting move, the Cruise Lines International Association announced yesterday (May 22) it would adopt a Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights, effective immediately for CLIA's North American member cruise lines. The bill, created by the 22 North American CLIA members, consists of 10 specific areas in which the members pledge to consistently ensure passenger safety, comfort and care.
Among them?
"The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard..."
"The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to these failures."
"The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures."
The full Bill of Rights can be found here.
Clearly, at least some of the impetus for the creation of a Passenger Bill of Rights is recent troubles, including an engine room fire in February on Carnival Triumph that knocked out power to most hotel-related functions and disabled propulsion. Another high-profile mechanical issue occurred on Carnival Dream in March, when an emergency diesel generator malfunctioned, causing the cruise line to cancel the rest of the voyage and fly passengers home from St. Maarten. Also in March, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), concerned about the spate of cruise-related mechanical problems and their impact on passengers, called on the cruise industry to voluntarily adopt a bill of rights.
CLIA President and CEO Christine Duffy told Cruise Critic yesterday the new Passenger Bill of Rights incorporated not only Schumer's six specific suggestions but also added four.
Ultimately, the reason for creating this Passenger Bill of Rights, Duffy said, is to clarify what passengers are entitled to, moving forward, in the event of a mechanical failure onboard a cruise ship. Until now, cruise lines used their discretion in response to onboard mechanical failures.
"The Passenger Bill of Rights," she said, "is about consistency, being clear and transparent, and putting teeth into this bill of rights."
These are minimum standards, she added, and cruise lines can go above and beyond. CLIA member lines will be held accountable in case the basic standards are not honored, and cruise line CEOs, who all signed off on the Passenger Bill of Rights, are required to verify adherence to the initiative.
"This is a condition of membership in CLIA," Duffy said, "and it is a contractual agreement between the cruise line and the passenger." Cruise lines that do not comply with the bill of rights will be expelled from CLIA.
In addition, CLIA will submit a request for formal recognition of the Passenger Bill of Rights to the International Maritime Organization, which establishes ship safety guidelines on a global basis. "There," Duffy said, "it will be forwarded for consideration as an assembly resolution."
The Passenger Bill of Rights has been adopted only in North America, though any traveler who purchases a cruise ticket through a North American travel agency or cruise line will be covered, Duffy said. It will be extended to CLIA-related cruise organizations internationally no later than the end of 2013.
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Fair Treatment of Seafarers Report Reviewed
From the International Maritime Organization's Legal Committee (LEG) - 100th session, 15 to 19 April 2013
The Committee was provided with the findings of a survey, conducted by Seafarers' Rights International (SRI), concerning respect for the rights of seafarers facing criminal prosecution. The survey results were submitted by the observer delegations of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA). The findings strongly suggested that the rights of seafarers, as enshrined in the Guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident, adopted jointly by IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO), are often subject to violation.
The Committee thanked the co-sponsors for the document and expressed general support for the continuous promotion of the Guidelines. The Committee also agreed that the issue of fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident should remain on the agenda of the Legal Committee and delegations were invited to submit proposals for outputs to improve compliance with the Guidelines to its next session.
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
Day of the Seafarer - June 25, 2013
Sea Sunday - July 14, 2013 For posters, homily points, and other materials, click the following link:
World Maritime Day - September 26, 2013 Theme: Sustainable Development: IMO's Contribution beyone Rio+20
Link to IMO website
World Fisheries Day - November 21, 2013
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