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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

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

 

March 19, 2014
In This Issue
A Prayer for Peace in the Ukraine.
Cardinal DiNardo to give Plenary Address on Maritime Ministry at World Catholicism Week!
Ukrainian Seafarers puting on brave face, but need support!
Passing of Deacon Edward Vargas, AOS - Honolulu.
Message in a Bottle - Notes from Sea!
EU Maritime Career Path Mapping.
US Coast Guard Marine Safety Alerts for Fishers!
Other News Items.
Upcoming Events
PrayingHands

    Prayer Requests:

 

For the repose of the Soul of Deacon Edward Vargas, AOS - Honolulu who passed away unexpectedly after a heart attack. Please pray for the repose of his soul, and for his family that are dealing with his sudden loss. Pray also for AOS - Honolulu that the ministry there will continue. 

 

 

For Miss Khiem Nguyen, volunteer with the Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center. Khiem was born with heart problems and had a stroke which rendered her unconscious for some time at Christmas time.  Recovery has been slow, and she had another surgery this past Monday. We ask you to keep our sweet Khiem, and her family in your prayers! 

 

 

For Fr. Edward McKenna, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest who is still recovering from heart surgery. He asks for prayers from his AOS Family.  

    

 

For Msgr. Francis Frey, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest member whose cancer has returned. His doctors have advised him they can only slow it down. Please keep this good priest in your prayers.    

 

   

 

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A Prayer for Peace in the Ukraine      
  

Editors' Note: After sending out the message from AOS Ukraine last week, we found the following prayer, which was written by the Metropolitan Ukrainian Catholics in the United States. When considering that often times Ukrainian and Russian Seafarers work side by side onboard ship, we felt that this prayer has a unitive and conciliatory spirit for all crewmembers on the vessels. So we encourage you to bring this prayer onboard ship.

 

 

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called Children of God." At this hour, we fervently pray that Your Holy Spirit may inspire men and women in Ukraine to become Peacemakers.  

 

May they seek reconciliation and dialogue and end the violent confrontation and killing.

 

May they restore tranquility to their nation and restore human rights, democratic principles and religious liberty to their troubled land.

 

God, our Father, we beseech you to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded and accept the souls of the departed into Your Heavenly Kingdom.

 

And may the Most Holy Mother of God extend her Blessed Mantle of Protection over Ukraine.

 

And may each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your Peace.

 

Amen.

  

+Stefan Soroka

Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians

Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States

 

 

 

 

Молитва за спокій в Україні  

 

Отче Небесний, Твій Син учив нас: «Блаженні миротворці, бо вони синами Божими назвуться».

 

У цей час ми гаряче молимося, щоб Твій Дух Святий надихав людей в Україні ставати миротворцями.

Щоб вони шукали примирення і діалогу, Щоб припинилися гостра конфронтація та бивства.  

 

Щоб на цій багатостраждальній землі запанував мир в народі, відродилися людські права, принципи демократїі та релігійної свободи.

 

Боже, Отче наш, молимо Тебе: заспокой страждання, зціли поранених і прийми душі полеглих у Твоєму Царстві Небесному.

 

Пресвята Мати Божа, накрий своїм благословенним та захисним покровом всю Україну.

 

Нехай життя буде для створення Твого Миру в Україні і світі.

 

Амінь.

 

+Стефан Сорока

Архиєпископ Філадельфійський для Українців

Митрополит для Українців-Католиків в Сполучених Штатах Америки

 



Cardinal DiNardo to give Plenary Address on Maritime Ministry at World Catholicism Week at DePaul University   
   
  

His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People will give a plenary address on "Maritime Ministry: The People of the Sea" at the upcoming Catholicism Week at DePaul University.  

 

AOS-USA Board Member, and former AOS National Director, the Rev. Fr. John A. Jamnicky will be the Moderator for this discussion.

 

For those wishing to attend the conference, please view the website at:

http://worldcath2014.depaul.edu/   

 
To view the schedule for the "Scattered and Gathered" portion of the conference, which includes Cardinal DiNardo's talk, please click the following link:
http://worldcath2014.depaul.edu/spirit/Schedule/index.aspx

We encourage any AOS-USA Members in the area to attend the conference, or at least this portion of it. It will be an excellent opportunity!

Doreen M. Badeaux
Secretary General





Ukrainian seafarers putting on a brave face, but they need support  
 
Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain
18 March 2014  
  
Fr. Roger Stone, visits with Ukranian Seafarers 

Catholic seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is continuing to assist Ukrainian seafarers arriving at ports in Great Britain.

 

Its port chaplains up and down the country are offering practical help such as providing internet connection for Ukrainian crew to contact their families back home.

 

AoS Southampton port chaplain Reverend Roger Stone who is supporting Ukrainian seafarers said;

 

"I met two who live very near Crimea.  One is Ukrainian, the other half Russian, and half Ukrainian. We discussed the situation in Ukraine. Their view is that we are all human beings and national identity comes second. 

 

"They are very worried about the situation, as are their families back in the Ukraine. I promised to remember that at mass. One is going home to Ukraine in the next few days and is wondering what exactly he is going home to."

 

Maritime Bishop of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Bishop Peter Stasiuk C.Ss.R.AM has asked for prayers for Ukrainian seafarers.

 

In a message to seafarers worldwide he says; "Many of you sail in ships where there are Ukrainian crew members, many of them from Southern Ukraine. For them particularly, being away from home is difficult. They simply do not  know what will happen to their families. On behalf of your fellow seafarers who are worried about their homes and families, please pray for peace and stability in Ukraine. "

 

Also paramount is the safety of seafarers whose ships are arriving at Ukrainian ports. Several major shipping lines have already stated they are prepared to take necessary measures to keep their crew and activities safe and are closely monitoring the situation as their vessels call at Ukrainian ports.

 

In an update on its website, international law firm Ince & Co says that while the state of affairs in Ukraine remained fluid, an escalation of tensions and any military action may have repercussion for shipping, including crew.

 

There are an estimated 39,000 Ukrainian seafarers worldwide, making the country a major supplier of seafarers.

 


Passing of Deacon Edward Vargas AOS - Honolulu      
 
 
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of AOS-USA Member, Deacon Edward Vargas. He worked very hard to establish the AOS Ministry in the Diocese of Honolulu.

Deacon Ed suffered a heart attack on Ash Wednesday and passed away this past Sunday afternoon, March 16.

This was very unexpected, and we ask for prayers for his wife Lana, their children and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:
FRIDAY, 21 MARCH
0800 - 0900 Viewing at St Jude
0900 - 1000 Funeral Mass at St Jude
1100 - Burial at Veterans' Cemetery
 
AOS-USA sends out prayers to the family and we also give prayers of thanks for a man who worked so hard for the People of the Sea.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, rest in peace.



Message in a Bottle: Notes from Sea    
(Editor's Note:  The following are from Cruise Ship Priests notes back to the office, letting us know how the ministry onboard is going.)


March 18, 2014

I am happy to be staying on the World Cruise of the Seabourn SOJOURN for the full length of the trip to Venice.
By remaining on board I can build up a relationship with the crew and passengers and really get to know them and minister to them. I feel I am just doing that now.

Today for example I shared a joint open-forum discussion with the Rabbi on board, a wonderful man. We had a good crowd who asked us questions in a Question and Answer forum.We hope to continue with this Inter-religious dialogue meeting for the passengers. Good to get another perspective.

Fr. Anthony McNeill
AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest
United Kingdom


March 11, 2014

It's interesting to be aboard the Holland America Line VOLENDAM in the exact area where many are searching for the fallen Malesian aircraft.  Our Captain just told us to notify him if we see any sign of debris.  This is the second time we passed near the search area in the sea near Vietnam.  We are praying for them at Mass this morning.

Fr. William Kornacker
AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest
Canada

 

 

  

Courtesy: Dearsley Maritime Consultancy


The Maritime Career Mapping Project was undertaken on behalf of the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and funded by the European Commission. The Project was undertaken between January 2013 and January 2014 and the Project Team Leader was David Dearsley, founder of DM Consulting, and a small team comprising a specialist social media company, The Digital Marketing Bureau, and a professional researcher, Dr. Jane Copley, with assistance from Allan Graveson, Senior National Secretary Nautilus International.

 

The purpose of the Project was to identify barriers to career mobility for European seafarers and to propose possible solutions to them. The Final Report of the Project is below:   

 

Click here for the Final Report 

.

 



US COAST GUARD
MARINE SAFETY ALERT
Attention on Deck!
Commercial Fishing Vessels
December 31, 2013


According to U. S. Bureau of Labor statistics, in 2012 commercial fishing was the second most dangerous occupation in the country, with over 117 fatalities per 100,000 workers.i This alert serves
to remind commercial fishing vessel owners, operators, and crew members of the dangers associated with working around moving deck machinery, rigging, and equipment.

A recent marine casualty resulting in the death of a crew member highlights the need to remain ever vigilant to unsafe practices and conditions. In this instance, the crew member was standing in a
hazardous location on the vessel's working deck, near the stern between a section of interior bulwark and a large-diameter trawl wire which was supporting the weight of at least 1,400 pounds of deployed fishing gear. As the load on the wire increased and the direction of the load path shifted due to the sea state and the vessel's motion, the wire suddenly became taught against the vessel's bulwark where the crew member had been standing. As a result, the crew member was trapped in between and suffered fatal injuries. Although the investigation of this casualty is not complete and other
causal factors may be discovered, initial findings indicate that failure to follow shipboard safety procedures and failure to recognize a dangerous situation may have contributed to this casualty.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners, operators, and crew members of commercial fishing vessels implement the following, common-sense safety measures:

* Develop and post safety plans that include identification of "pinch points" and other dangerous locations on deck;
* Regularly conduct onboard safety training emphasizing on-deck hazards and other potential dangers;
* Remain ever-vigilant to the changing nature of potential dangers in the presence of moving deck machinery, rigging, and equipment;
* Follow vessel safety procedures and avoid placing oneself in peril!
This alert is for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational, or material requirement. Developed by the Fifth Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, VA.

Questions may be addressed to LCDR Ken Morton, (757) 398-6284, or may be forwarded to D05-
DG-Prevention-DPI-PFB-Staff@uscg.mil.
   

US COAST GUARD
MARINE SAFETY ALERT
Entanglement Accidents  

December 31, 2013 

A recent marine casualty involving a severe injury to a crewmember
aboard an inspected passenger vessel reminds us that these hazards
happen in any segment of the maritime industry. Moving, rotating,
and reciprocating machinery may include (but are not limited to)
rotating or spinning shafts, fan blades, fan or serpentine belts,
gearing, hydraulic ram assemblies, couplings, arms, linkages,
windlasses, drums, blocks, booms, and sheaves, etc.. In this
instance, a crewmember's hair became entangled with a rotating
propeller shaft as the crewmember was on watch and conducting
rounds. The crew member sustained life-threatening injuries and is
permanently disfigured. Although the investigation of this casualty is not complete, initial observations serve to remind all vessel owner / operators, and crew members of the hazards onboard
vessels of all types.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that vessel owner /operators evaluate their vessels for the presence of moving, rotating, reciprocating or articulating machinery hazards, and implement
documented common-sense policies, procedures, and safety measures:
  • Never wear loose fitting clothing, jewelry or personal gear in the vicinity of such equipment.
  • Keep long hair tied back to avoid entanglement;
  •  Install and maintain guards and protective equipment to prevent personnel contact;
  • Post appropriate hazard signs;
  • Never energize machinery unless certain that all personnel are well clear;
  • Follow proper lock-out tag-out procedures when working near or on such equipment, and ensure it has been verified that local or remote motor controls have been tagged-out or disabled and completely de-energized;
  • Develop procedural safeguards that eliminate, as far as practicable, personnel's need to be in proximity to hazardous machinery when in operations;
  • Regularly conduct onboard safety training to emphasize safety procedures and the hazards of machinery, include deck and engine department, cargo equipment, and tools;
  •   Always be vigilant for new risks and dangers presented to your crews and passengers.
This alert is for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational, or material requirement. Developed by the Fifth Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, VA.

Questions may be addressed to LCDR Ken Morton, (757) 398-6284, or may be forwarded to D05-
DG-Prevention-DPI-PFB-Staff@uscg.mil.

 

Other News Items  

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N. 117 Dec 2013 

 

Catholic Maritime News - Winter 2013 

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N.116 June 2013/III

 

Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N.115 June 2013/II 

 

Catholic Maritime News Spring 2013 No. 72  

 

 Apostolatus Maris Bulletin N.114 March 2013/I 

 

 

Catholic Maritime News Winter 2012 No. 71 

 

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 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 
 

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