For the repose of the soul of the Mother of Fr. Bob Nalley, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest. Mrs. Nalley passed away this week.
For Fr. Alan Jurkus' Mother, who is very ill and only expected to live 6 months. Fr. Jurkus appreciates your prayers for her.
For Fr. Ron Oser, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Member who is having a total knee replacement. He appreciates your prayers.
For Fr Jim Schiffer, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Member who asks for prayers as his Meieniers disease has caused multiple health issues lately. He appreciates your prayers.
For the repose of the Soul for the Father of Fr Ron Brickner, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest member. Fr Ron's Dad passed away in December.
For Fr. Michael Sullivan, Cruise Ship Priest Member who fell and injured himself.
For the Mother of Karen Parsons, who has been very ill. They appreciate the prayers of their AOS Family.
For Fr. Joe Brando, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest who has cancer. He asks for your prayers.
For Fr. Steven L. Yander, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest, who recently had open heart surgery. He appreciates your prayers.
Prayers of Thanksgiving for Miss Mary Cadotte, step-daughter of Jim McGee, with the Seafarers' International Union in Houston. Mary was diagnosed with
Hodgekin's Disease, but she is doing very well now and continuing her college classes.
AOS PRAYER
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon all Seafarers.
(1 Our Father)
(Hail Mary)
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
Lord save us, we perish.
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Almost every day brings new, shocking stories of Christians, many of whom are Eastern Catholics, being terrorized and/or killed by ISIS. After the brutal slaying of 21 poor Coptic workmen in Libya on February 15, I dreaded what could be next.
Sadly the answer came this week, when 17 cruise passengers were killed, and 13 were wounded during an attack in Tunisia on March 18, and 137 Shia Muslims were killed in two suicide bomb attacks in Sanaa,Yemen on March 20.
Because of our Cruise Ship Priest Program, these attacks hit very close to home. We had priests assigned to MSC ships during Christmas, and will have them aboard some their ships during Holy Week. Until recently, AOS-Italy staffed all of Costa's sailings with priests.
LET US RAISE UP A SPIRITUAL BOUQUET:
During this very tragic time, when so many of our brothers and sisters have experienced a real Calvary beside our Lord Jesus because of this incomprehensible evil, we ask all our members to raise all the passengers and crewmembers of MSC and Costa in your prayers.
Specifically we ask:
AOS-USA Priests Members: Include in your Mass intentions the passengers who were killed and wounded, their families, the crewmembers of the MSC Splendida and Costa Fascinosa, and all the crewmembers and employees of MSC and Costa.
AOS-USA Deacons, Religious, and Laity: Please pray a special rosary to Our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady Star of the Sea for the passengers who were killed and wounded, their families, the crewmembers of the MSC Splendida and Costa Fascinosa, and all the crewmembers and employees of MSC and Costa.
Please click the link below to send a simple email with your spiritual bouquet by March 27th.
We will be sending condolences messages to both cruise lines very soon, and we would like to share them the number of Masses and rosaries being lifted up by our members.
Below are a number of items that can be helpful to understanding this tragic event.
Costa Cruises has confirmed that five of its guests were also among those killed in yesterday's terrorist attack in Tunis, Tunisia, bringing the total number of cruise passengers killed in the attack to 17.
According to a statement from Costa Cruises:
"With great sadness we regret to report that 5 guests (4 Italians and 1 Russian) of the Costa Fascinosa are amongst the victims of the horrific attack yesterday in Tunis, and 8 guests (7 Italians and 1 Russian) are injured and currently hospitalized. What happened yesterday in Tunis represents an attack to the values of friendship between cultures in which we have always believed. Our deepest sympathy and our condolences go to the victims and their families. We share their sorrow."
Update 1: MSC Cruises has confirmed that a total of twelve of its guests were killed in Wednesday's terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. Those killed included 2 Colombians, 3 French, 3 Japanese, 2 Spanish, 1 British and 1 Belgian, the cruise line reported. Thirteen of its guests were also injured, including 1 Belgian, 7 French, 4 Japanese and 1 South African. Two of those injured are considered in serious conditions.
Two guests who remained missing were found hiding in the museum and are in good condition.
A total of 20 people died in the attack, the cruise line reported based on information from the Tunisian Minister of Tourism.
MSC Cruises says it decided to suspend all remaining Tunisian calls through summer 2015.
MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: "Sadly, the murderous actions of the people behind this devastating attack will have far-reaching and profoundly damaging effects on democratic Tunisia and its faltering economy. Tunisia can little afford to be considered a no-go zone at this time, but regrettably that is how tourists will now see it."
The suspension will effect four of MSC Cruises' 12 ships. MSC Cruises says that the MSC Splendida will call at Valletta, in Malta; MSC Fantasia will call at Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca; MSC Preziosa will call at Cagliari, in Sardinia; and MSC Divina will call at Valletta a day earlier and head directly to Corfu, Greece
Earlier: MSC Cruises has confirmed that at least nine of its passengers are believed to be among the 21 people killed in a terrorist attack at a museum in Tunis, Tunisia on Wednesday.
The attack occurred Wednesday at the Bardo National Museum, Tunisia's largest museum. Two gunmen were killed by security forces and four others have been arrested, according to reports.
In a stream of updates on its website, MSC Cruises commented: "Based on the communication made by official authorities, MSC Cruises, its ownership and entire management team report with profound sadness that at the time of this announcement nine of its guests are reported to have lost their lives, 12 were injured, and six (two Spanish nationals, one Belgian, one British, one French and one Japanese) are still unaccounted for in conjunction with the tragic event at the Bardo Museum. However, these numbers are still subject to modification whilst official identification is on-going."
At the time of the shootings, some of the guests onboard the MSC Splendida were on shore excursions, including to the Bardo National Museum, as the ship was calling at the port of La Goulette, Tunis with 3,714 guests and 1,267 crew members aboard. The ship arrived March 18 for its weekly call performed during the season from December 17, 2014 to April 15, 2015, MSC Cruises said.
The Costa cruise ship, Costa Fascinosa, was also in port at Tunis at the time of the attack. Costa Cruises says it has suspended all calls at Tunis going forward.
The MSC Splendida has since departed the port of La Goulete, Tunis as of 6 a.m. Thursday.
"MSC Splendida received the authorization from the relevant authorities to leave the port of La Goulette and is heading, as originally scheduled, to Barcelona where it is currently expected to arrive at 9AM on Friday, March 20, MSC Cruises said.
The company added:
"MSC Cruises is present on site with its crises team in order to continue to provide key assistance on the ground to MSC Splendida's guests who were involved in the tragic events and needing assistance.
MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, will be arriving in Tunis in the coming hours in order to make a close assessment of the situation, meet in person as well as arrange to provide assistance to those affected by these tragic events and their relatives and consult with local authorities."
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to the Archbishop of Tunis, Ilario Antoniazzi, for the victims of the terrorist attack on 18 March.
"Having learned of the grave terrorist attack on the city of Tunis, which caused numerous deaths and injuries, Pope Francis reiterates his strong condemnation of any act against peace and the sacredness of human life, and joins in prayer with the suffering of the families who mourn their loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy, as well as with all the Tunisian people. He asks the Lord to welcome the departed in His peace and to comfort those who are seriously injured. As a pledge of consolation, the Pope asks that God might grant His abundant blessings to all."
There are a number of great Catholic organizations that are engaged everyday in offering relief to our Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian brothers and sisters who are under the constant threat of ISIS. AOS-USA encourages its members to support our Christian brothers and sisters through our prayers and our treasurers.
Houston Maritime Ministry Training School Feb. 1 - 13, 2015 Houston International Seafarers' Center Click below for the application: Houston School Application 2015
AOS-USA Annual Conference April 21 - 23, 2015 American Maritime Officers Union Dania, Florida Click to Register!
National Maritime Day
May 22, 2015
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
Dear Friends,
