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