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Prayer Requests:
For the repose of the soul of Deacon Bill Pollack, retired from AOS San Diego. May God console and comfort his wife Cecilia and their family. Join us in prayers of thanksgiving for this servant of the People of the Sea.
For the many Filipino Seafarers who are currently at sea, and do not know the status of their families at home, or the status of their homes, due to inability to make contact with them in the aftermath of the Typhoon.
Prayers of thanksgiving for Sr Mary Nhung Nguyen, cousin of Fr Joseph Phan, AOS - Oakland. Sr Mary is in the Philippines. She had not been heard from for over a week after the Typhoon. She has now contacted family and is alive and well. Their order was taking care of others and she had not been able to contact family. Prayers of thanksgiving are now in order!
For the repose of the Soul of Fr. Anthony Hannick, Cruise Ship Priest Member, who passed away recently. Fr. Hannick was from Ireland, and was known for bringing several priests into the AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Program to serve the People of the Sea. We thank God for the work of this good Priest.
For the hundreds of refugees and ferry travelers who have died in the last three weeks in maritime disasters in Nigeria and off the Coast of Lampedusa.
For the thousands of Indian Fishing Families impacted by the Typhoon.
For the 19 missing crew members of the M/V Chenglu 15, lost off the South Korea Coast on October 14.
For the continued healing of our AOS USA past vice president, Chris Fogarty, who is now home and undergoing therapy.
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Icon on St. Nicholas in St. Nicholas Church in Lido
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December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas - Patron of Sailors
When he was young, Nicholas sought the holy by making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There as he walked where Jesus walked, he sought to more deeply experience Jesus' life, passion, and resurrection. Returning by sea, a mighty storm threatened to wreck the ship. Nicholas calmly prayed. The terrified sailors were amazed when the wind and waves suddenly calmed, sparing them all. And so St. Nicholas is the patron of sailors and voyagers. of the typhoon survivors to call home. Thank God and thank you for your prayers. (From: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas) Strange Adventures Of The Saint's Body
( Originally Published 1909 ) St. Nicholas died in the year 343 and was buried with great honor in the cathedral at Myra. Being the patron saint of such roving folk as sailors, merchants and travelers it was only natural that his body should have lain in perpetual peril from thievish hands. The relics of saints were highly prized because it was held that they performed miracles on behalf of the townsfolk and of the strangers who visited their shrines. Of course the relics of so great and, popular a saint as Nicholas were especially coveted, and most so by the classes of whom he was the patron. In those days, it was believed that no saint was greatly troubled by the manner in which his body was procured. Even if it were stolen and reburied elsewhere by the robbers themselves the body worked miracles in its new abode as cheerfully as it had done in the old one. Moreover it drew trade and custom to any city in which it was enshrined and so brought wealth to the people of the entire neighborhood.  In fact pilgrims from various parts of the world came in crowds to the shrine at Myra. As the fame of Saint Nicholas increased so did the value of his relics. At various times during the first six centuries after his burial, attempts were made to carry off his body by force or by fraud. None of these attempts was successful until, in the year 1084. Certain merchants from the city of Bari, in southeastern Italy, landed at Myra to find that the entire countryside had been laid waste by a Muslim invasion. All the men who could bear arms had gathered together and were now gone in pursuit of the invaders. Three monks had been left behind to stand guard over the shrine of Saint Nicholas. It was an easy task for the merchants of Bari to overpower these monks, break open the coffin which contained the body and bear it away with them to their own city. Here it was received with great joy. A fine new church was built on the site of an old one which had been dedicated to Saint Stephen. This was torn down to make room for its successor. This new church was to serve as a shrine for the stolen body. In a crypt or vault under its high altar lies all that was mortal of the one-time Bishop of Myra. On the very day of the reburial, so it is said, no less than thirty people who attended the ceremony were cured of their various ailments. Such is the story that is generally accepted. But another story was and is told by the people of Venice. They, too, claim that they possess the body of Saint Nicholas, and insist that it was taken from Myra by Venetian merchants in the year 1100, and reburied in Venice by the citizens. They do not accept the story told by the Bari merchants, but declare that the latter carried off from another spot the body of another saint, possibly of the same name, which they palmed off upon their fellow citizens as the body of the former Bishop of Myra. The true body, they claim, is that which lies today, as it has lain for centuries, in the church of St. Nicholas on the Lido. The Lido is a bank of sand which projects, promontory fashion, out of the Grand Canal in Venice into the Adriatic Sea. The fame of a holy man so closely connected with two great trading ports of the Middle Ages was sure to spread wider and wider among the nations of Europe. And, indeed, we find that everywhere sailors acknowledged him as their special guide and protector and sang his praises wherever they landed. Both at Bari and at Venice the churches dedicated in his honor stand close to the mouth of the harbor. Venetian crews on their way out to sea would land at the Lido and proceed to the church of St. Nicholas, there to ask for a blessing on their voyage. There also they would stop on their home-coming to give thanks for a safe return. Sailors of Bari would in the same way honor the shrine in which lay what they claimed was the true body of Saint Nicholas. Many tales of miraculous escapes from shipwreck, due to the intercession of their patron, were related by seamen and travelers, not only at home, but at the various ports where they stopped, so that the name and fame of the good Saint Nicholas grew more resplendent every year. Churches erected in his honor abound in the fishing villages and harbors of Europe. In England alone, before the Reformation, there were 376 churches which bore his name. The largest parish church in the entire land is that of St. Nicholas at Yarmouth, which was built in the twelfth century and retains that name to the present day. Some of the other churches were rebaptized by the Protestants. The churches dedicated to Saint Nicholas in Catholic countries are especially dear to people who make their living out of the sea. Sailors and fishermen when ashore frequent them, and if they have just escaped from any of the perils of the deep they show gratitude to their patron by hanging up on the church walls what are known as votive pictures. These are either prints of the saint or sketches, rudely drawn by local artists, which represent the danger that the sailors had run and the manner in which they had escaped: Often a figure of Saint Nicholas appears in the darkened heavens to calm: the f ears of the imperilled mariners. It is fishermen and sailors also who take the chief part in the great festival in honor of Saint Nicholas that is celebrated at Bari on the fifth land sixth of December in every year. Bari, it may be well to explain, is a very old and still a very important seaport on the eastern coast of southern Italy. It is situated on a small peninsula projecting into the Adriatic. From very early days the city has been the official seat of an archbishop and hence possesses a grand old cathedral. Excerpted from: Strange Adventures Of The Saint's Body(http://www.oldandsold.com/articles03/santaclaus2.shtml) St. Nicholas, Pray For Seafarers
St. Nicholas, patron of all seafarers, pray for those who work on our rivers, lakes and seas. May your intercessions guard all mariners from the perils of the sea, and the evil that flows from the hearts of men. St. Nicholas, patron of all seafarers, pray for the families of mariners while they are at sea. May your intercessions protect them while their loved ones are away, and open they hearts to welcome them when they return home.
St. Nicholas, patron of all seafarers, pray that I may welcome all seafarers in the name of Christ the Lord, and prepare for them a place of safety, hospitality, and peace.
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AMO members aboard M/V Bennett deliver food, clothing, hope on PL-480 run
to East Africa
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Capt. Jeremy Allen with Doreen Badeaux while loading in Africa, and receiving clothing
and shoes.
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A goodwill mission that began as question a decade ago was recently completed thanks to the generous efforts American Maritime Officers members sailing in the PL-480 trades delivering U.S. food aid to East Africa.
During the most recent PL-480 run performed by the M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett - which is operated by Sealift Inc. and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers - Captain Jeremy Allen and the ship's officers and crew delivered clothing and shoes they had gathered to children and dock workers at several African ports.
The idea first formed in Allen's mind about 10 years ago when he made a similar trip to Africa as a junior officer on the M/V Ascension. "We were on my first trip to Africa and I was struck by the fact that everyone I met ... was asking me to give them my shoes before we left," he said. "The assumption was that I had many pairs, being a rich American, and that to give them the shoes off of my feet would be no hardship to me. In addition to this, I saw that most of the people working on the ship, and on gathered on the dock, were lucky to have flip-flops for shoes, and many had none at all."
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M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett
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In July, the Bennett was assigned a grain run to East Africa, delivering food-aid under PL-480 Food for Peace. For Allen, it was the perfect opportunity to bring more than food to the people of impoverished region. He decided to organize a clothing drive with local churches and maritime service organizations in the area.
With the help of Father Sinclair Oubre of the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America, located in Port Arthur, Texas, Allen was able to collect more than 15 boxes of clothing and shoes to bring on the next trip to Africa.
"I was very happy to be able to help, especially with some of the assault coming against the PL-480 program," said Oubre, who is merchant seaman and member of the Seafarers International Union. "This is one of the unrecognized values of the program. The response was so good we were about ready to give him a 20-foot container filled with clothes."
The goods were delivered to ports in Kenya, Mozambique and Djibouti.
The officers and crew of the Bennett also took up a collection of money for an orphanage in Kenya and delivered it to the children along with some much-needed clothing.
Allen said such charitable opportunities might not be possible without the Food for Peace program. "I am just glad that the PL-480 program, which keeps these U.S.-flagged ships employed, can afford the opportunity to both share the bounty of the American farmer to the hungry in Africa and elsewhere, and at the same time provide the vehicle to enable the generous individuals in the U.S. to help in other ways as well. The ship and crew are just one link in this chain of giving, and I am just thankful that I am able to be a part of this spirit of human kindness that transcends oceans and cultures for the betterment of humanity." (Editor: Go to the pdf version of the AMO newspaper for some great Pictures of Capt. Jeremy, the Bennett, those he helped, and some of his crew: http://www.amo-union.org/News/2013/201311/201311.pdf | |
| | | Copyright © 2013 American Maritime Officers, All Rights Reserved |
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100 Haitian Migrants Clinging to Capsized Sail Freighter, 30 Dead
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Approximately 30 Haitian migrants are reported dead and 110 were rescued by Coast Guard and Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescue crews 15 nautical miles southwest of Staniel Cay, Bahamas, Tuesday.
At least 10 Haitian migrants are reported dead and approximately 100 are being rescued by U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescue crews 15 nautical miles southwest of Staniel Cay, Bahamas, Tuesday.
More than 100 Haitian migrants fell into the water Monday night when their overloaded sail freighter grounded and capsized off coast of Staniel Cay.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., MH-60 helicopter crew attached to Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos responded and hoisted 13 people from the water after deploying a mass rescue raft. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 aircrew and an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 dropped food, supplies and eight additional life rafts to provide assistance.
The Royal Bahamian Defense Force launched a 108-foot patrol boat to assist with the rescue of Haitians from the overloaded sail freighter.
See article and additional pictures from Maritime Executive
(Editor: The United Nations High Commission on Refugees estimates that more than 1500 refugees drowned in 2011. In July, Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa, and gave a homily on the plight of the refugees of the sea.)
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HOMILY OF HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
Monday, 8 July 2013
Video
Immigrants dying at sea, in boats which were vehicles of hope and became vehicles of death. That is how the headlines put it. When I first heard of this tragedy a few weeks ago, and realized that it happens all too frequently, it has constantly come back to me like a painful thorn in my heart. So I felt that I had to come here today, to pray and to offer a sign of my closeness, but also to challenge our consciences lest this tragedy be repeated. Please, let it not be repeated! First, however, I want to say a word of heartfelt gratitude and encouragement to you, the people of Lampedusa and Linosa, and to the various associations, volunteers and security personnel who continue to attend to the needs of people journeying towards a better future. You are so few, and yet you offer an example of solidarity! Thank you! I also thank Archbishop Francesco Montenegro for all his help, his efforts and his close pastoral care. I offer a cordial greeting to Mayor Giusi Nicolini: thank you so much for what you have done and are doing. I also think with affection of those Muslim immigrants who this evening begin the fast of Ramadan, which I trust will bear abundant spiritual fruit. The Church is at your side as you seek a more dignified life for yourselves and your families. To all of you: o'scià!
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Typhoon Haiyan Wakes the Spirit of Humanity in Shipping, Air Freight and Union Representatives: Good Practice Guide Published as Shipowners, Airlines and Others Rush to Assist with Practical Aid
Courtesy: HandyShippingGuide.com
20 November 2013
PHILIPPINES - WORLDWIDE - A very useful Good Practice Guide has just been produced telling the best ways for shipping lines, crewing agencies and other related parties on how to support Filipino seafarers in the wake of the terrible toll inflicted on the archipelago by the passing of Typhoon Haiyan. The Guide, viewable HERE, has been produced by an industry group comprising shipowners, welfare organisations, and unions. Unions affiliated to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) have been working tirelessly in an effort to replace local government services in the wake of the tragedy by distributing food, drink and other supplies whilst other freight interests are also helping out. The Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) is using its training ship the Kapitan Felix Oca to get supplies to the worst affected area for the indefinite future, while the Philippines Seafarers Union (PSU) has been attempting to distribute food and drink in Cebu Province and the island of Leyte. The ITF is also working with ISWAN (the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network) on practical measures to assist Filipino seafarers who are desperate to find out what has happened to their families. ITF president Paddy Crumlin, commented: "Our sympathy is with all the victims of this awful event, and our thoughts are with them and all those in the country and around the world who are trying to help them. Unions have taken up the challenge of providing the emergency aid that is needed following this disaster. We in the wider ITF family are supporting them all the way. We commend their inspiring example, and that of all the organisations, agencies, individuals and governments who are working tirelessly to help those affected by this awful tragedy." Another industry player is throwing its weight behind the relief effort with freight only airline Cargolux flying to Manila with two of the company's 747's carrying supplies from various humanitarian aid organisations on 16 and 19 November and additionally transporting tonnes of clothes, blankets, toys and other urgently needed items that were collected by Cargolux employees, relatives and friends, as well as by the local Philippine community and other groups and citizens of Luxembourg. On very short notice, they collected five tonnes of goods for the first flight and over 12 tonnes for the second. Luxembourg recycling specialist Horsch Entsorgung S.à r.l. spontaneously offered their help and supplied trucks free-of-charge that ferried the pallets from Cargolux's collection centre to the CargoCenter for loading onto the airline's freighters. Richard Forson, Cargolux Interim President and CEO commented that the operation was a tribute to his company's human spirit with a response whose rapidity amazed him whilst the airline's Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Robert van de Weg, commented: "We all have been touched by the pain and suffering of the Philippine people, the devastation there is beyond imagination. I thank the people in our organisation, our handling partner Luxair and our General Sales Agent in the Philippines, Wallem Philippines Shipping Inc., who made these flights possible in the shortest possible time frame."
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Council for Migrants helping seafarers affected by HaiyanCourtesy: Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People has set up a special fund to assist fisherman and seafarers affected by typhoon Haiyan. The special fund, which will be directed by the Apostleship of the Sea, has an initial contribution of $10,000.
"Our aim is to intervene as soon as the initial phase of the emergency will be over," said Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People. "We will focus on projects of reconstruction of the social fabric providing material help to the people of the sea."
He told Vatican Radio the Council has been in contact with the Apostleship of the Sea in the Philippines.
"Together with them we are identifying places and situations that are in most need of a practical and concrete support, such as rebuilding houses, purchasing of fishing boats, engines and nets, not to mention scholarships for orphans," he said.
Listen to the full interview with Archbishop Kalathiparambil with Stefano Leszczynski:
http://media01.radiovaticana.va/audiomp3/00400753.MP3
Vatican Radio Interview
of Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil
Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the
Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People
20 November 2013
How this special Fund of the Apostleship of Sea for the Philippines came about?
The Apostleship of the Sea is not new to initiatives of this kind. We promoted an international collection immediately after the terrible tsunami that hit a large area of South East Asia in 2004. Then we sprang into action in 2011, following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan. In recent weeks, an earthquake and shortly after a terrible typhoon severely tested the Philippines. As soon as we realized the enormity of the tragedy, we decided to do something, encouraged also by the various AOS centers in the world, who asked us how to help. Of all the requests for help that we have received, we were moved especially by the fishers in Japan, whom two years ago had received subsidies from Apostleship of the Sea International, and now have expressed the desire to offer some assistance to the Filipinos fishers.
Many Filipinos who work as seafarers were away from their loved ones when the typhoon Haiyan disrupted the Asian archipelago. What special assistance have they received?
There have been many initiatives in place in the various AOS centers. Prayer vigils were organized and masses celebrated for the victims. Psychological support was given to those who were coming from the affected areas, free phone cards have been distributed and free access to the internet was given. To be highlighted is the attention shown by the Carnival Cruise which asked the Apostleship of the Sea to deploy Catholic chaplains on some of its ships to offer help and support to the crews, the majority of them being Catholics Filipino seafarers.
What projects will be subsidized by this fund?
Our aim is to intervene as soon as the initial phase of the emergency will be over. We will focus on projects of reconstruction of the social fabric providing material help to the people of the sea.
As in previous disasters, we are in contact with the chaplains of the Apostleship of the Sea in the Philippines. Together with them we are identifying places and situations that are in most need of a practical and concrete support, such as rebuilding houses, purchasing of fishing boats, engines and nets, not to mention scholarships for orphans. For this, let me inform the listeners, that on our website they will find the instructions on how to do the donations.
The web site of the Pontifical Council is: www.pcmigrants.org This is not the first similar project from your Dicastery. Why this particular focus on seafarers?
First of all we have to say that the Pontifical Council is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea. Considering that approximately one third of the million and two hundred thousand (1,200,000) seafarers in the world are Filipinos, to whom regularly we offer our pastoral care in the Stella Maris Centers in the world, it is natural that we do something for them.
Also, do not forget that the AOS is in charge of fishers too and, from some initial estimates made, it seems that more than half of the victims are poor fishers who have lost everything, not only their loved ones, but also their home and especially their tools: the fishing boats and nets. These poor fishers were living along the coasts of the provinces devastated by super typhoon Haiyan. It will take a long time before they recover from all these losses and we want to offer them a contribution to rebuild their lives and be self-sufficient.
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Filipino sailors in Halifax seek out families after typhoon
Courtesy: CBC News Nova Scotia
November 20, 2013
Editors note: AOS-USA commends Affiliate Member Maggie Whittingham Lamont of the Missions to Seafarers, and her crew at the Halifax Seafarers Center for their good work to assist the seafarers affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
A mission in Halifax is looking for donations to fund its Wi-Fi and buy phone cards so Filipino seafarers can contact family back home in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
The typhoon hit the Philippines nearly two weeks ago and one of the biggest challenges for the sailors is getting information from home. The Mission to Seafarers in Halifax says not a day goes by that they aren't helping someone get on the computer or make a call.
Sailor Henden Villareal supports his parents and six siblings who live in an area of the Philippines that took a direct hit from the typhoon.
He's been on the container ship Kobe Express for four months. He's been able to speak with one brother, who told him their home is destroyed.
"I feel sad," he said. "But the important thing is my parents and all my family are still OK."
It's estimated that one in three sailors is from the Philippines. But helping them reach family costs money and that's why Mission to Seafarers says it needs money.
"Free Wi-Fi, we're giving them phone cards, we're taking phones on board, we're giving SIMs, top ups," said organizer Maggie Whittingham-Lamont.
Communication isn't easy on board. At the mission, sailor Ronald Buenaventura was able to connect with family.
"I'm lucky she is online," he said of a family member. "She didn't know that I am here."
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AOS Manila Newsletter July - September 2013
Click to read the latest e-news from AOS Manila: AOS Manila
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AOS Special Fund for the Philippines
From the Vatican , November 13th, 2013
Prot. n. 7423/2013/AM
Re: AOS special Fund for the Philippines
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Once again, we have witnessed the catastrophic power of the nature that in less than one month hit the same area twice (Central - Southern Visayas) in the Philippines . On October 15th, a devastating earthquake and then on November 7th, the Typhoon Haiyan hit the Nation, sweeping away people and property in its course. The death toll is in the thousands, while the survivors struggle to put together what is left of their lives.
Our prayers and solidarity go to all the Filipino seafarers miles away from their loved ones, not knowing their fate. We praise many of our AOS Centers around the world that have provided free telephone cards and internet access to allow Filipino seafarers to contact their families. Many of our AOS chaplains have celebrated Masses for the deceased, and have helped the seafarers make sense of such devastation and turmoil.
We appreciate that Carnival Cruise has requested AOS deploy Catholic chaplains on board of several of their ships to support Filipino crews.
The great family of AOS would like to show its closeness and manifest its solidarity to the Filipino people. Therefore, as it was done for the tsunami that struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea, has decided to set up a special fund with an initial contribution 10,000 (ten thousands) US dollars. The fund will support long-term reconstruction projects, to be realized in cooperation with AOS - Philippines , benefiting the people of the sea in the affected areas when, after the initial weeks of emergency, people will have to return to their "normal" life.
Attached, you will find the instructions for your donations in US$ or in Euros (enclosure).
Bank Transfer Document
Please be kind enough to inform our office (aosinternational@migrants.va) of any transfer of funds.
We would also be grateful if you could share this initiative, giving it all the exposure that you deem fits. In advance, we express our sincere thanks for your support and generosity, asking Mary, Star of the Sea, to bless this initiative.
Antonio Maria Card. Vegliò
President
X Joseph Kalathiparambil
Secretary
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
Houston Maritime Ministry Training School
Feb 9-21, 2014
Houston, TX
http://www.venturecd.net/SeafarersCenter.org/Application.htm
AOS-USA Annual Conference
April 29 - May 2, 2014
Corpus Christi, Texas
National Maritime Day
May 22, 2014
National Day of Remembrance and Prayer for Mariners
May 24, 2014
12:10 pm Mass
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Crypt Church
400 Michigan Ave. N.E.
Washington, DC 20017-1566
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