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Prayer Requests:
For Fr. Thomas Dolezal, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Member who was recently diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy. He asks for your prayers.
Prayer for Hurricane Season
By: Bishop Maurice Schexnayder
(2nd Bishop of Lafayette)
O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former calmness; You are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf of Mexico, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its sleep, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.
During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen.
A Seafarers' Prayer
O God, I ask you to take me into your care and protection along with all those who sail ships. Make me alert and wise in my duties. Make me faithful in the time of routine, and prompt to decide and courageous to act in any time of crisis. Protect me in the dangers and perils of the sea; and even in the storm, grant that there may be peace and calm within my heart. When I am far from home and far from loved ones and far from the country that I know, help me to be quite sure that, wherever I am, I can never drift beyond your love and care. Take care of my loved ones in the days and weeks and months when I am separated from them, sometimes with half the world between them and me. Keep me true to them and keep them true to me, and every time that we have to part, bring us together in safety and in loyalty again. This I ask for your love's sake. -Amen-
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,
or we perish.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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AOS/USCCB Website:
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. (Psalm 107:23-24)
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 Is Cruise Ship Ministry "Real" Ministry, or is it Just a Free Vacation?
Dear Friends, This seems to be the big question that some of our priests are encountered with. Sometimes their own brother priests tease them about having to take an "emergency cruise", and there's a sense of "Ministry? Yeah right!" Well, let's focus on the Cruise Ship Priest Program today. In the year 2014, we placed Catholic Priests onboard 514 cruises on 45 different ships, for 5 different cruise lines. We were able to do this thanks to a small army of 500 priests, each of whom was vetted and approved for ministry. Each was given instruction on the ministry, including instruction on the Motu Proprio Stella Maris, which are the "marching orders" given to the Apostleship of the Sea by St. Pope John Paul II. Once onboard, the Cruise Ship Priest provides daily Mass onboard, as well as a special Crew Mass at least once a week. He makes himself visible onboard, and offers Pastoral Care and Christian friendship to all passengers, staff and crew onboard, regardless of their faith background, culture, gender, etc . He introduces himself to the infirmary and checks on those who are ill or injured. Often times, there are serious illnesses onboard, and the priest is able to bring the anointing of the sick to the injured person, and to give Pastoral Care not only to that person but to their family and friends traveling with them. This past June, one of our cruise lines, Holland America Line (HAL), suffered a tragic loss, when several passengers onboard the WESTERDAM died in a plane crash while on an excursion, (which was not sanctioned by HAL). As soon as we learned the news, we sent a message to the head office to express our condolences and to offer our help and assistance. HAL has an AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest on each and every cruise, so the priest onboard, Fr. Bill Gold, who has done this ministry for many years, was able to spring into action at once. He held a Memorial Mass at 10:00 am the next morning, and the cruise line reported back to us stating: "We just concluded our memorial service, with standing room only in the showroom. It was very sensitively executed by Father Gold, who is scheduled to be on board for another few weeks." Those who work with seafarers know that they take the needs of everyone on the ship very seriously, so for the staff and crew onboard to suddenly lose 8 people from their vessel, it was very difficult. It was a great blessing for them that Fr Gold was onboard, and would remain onboard for another month. He is also a regular priest onboard that vessel, so counseling and Pastoral Care with the staff and crew was very natural and easy. The passengers also become quite close. Many of them travel multiple times on 1 specific ship or cruise line, and a family community begins to form. So, several of the other HAL ships in port that week were also affected. Thus we received the following note from Fr Paul Warren, AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest onboard the NOORDAM:
"I know you are fully aware of the float-plane crash in Ketchikan and the death of 8 of Holland America's passengers. Our ship was docked right next to the WESTERDAM on Thursday, the day of the plane crash. The Cruise Director asked me to console some of the passengers who were shaken by the news, which I did. I imagine the priest onboard the WESTERDAM had some intense counseling to do." Our priests surrounded Fr. Gold and all those affected by this tragedy in prayer, and shared their thoughts and reflections on our private Facebook site. This note from Fr Gary Padgett is typical of the responses, and shows the importance of the ministry onboard:
"The WESTERDAM accident is a sobering reminder that our ministry is serious and essential. The presence of a Catholic priest who is trained in crisis management brings the necessary spiritual component to something as awful as this week's plane crash. I am reminded once again that we are present for a serious purpose...and thank goodness we are able to do that. It continues to be an honor and privilege to serve in this ministry." So, the next time someone asks you about the ministry onboard cruise ships and whether it is "real ministry", perhaps you can share this story with them.
Doreen M. Badeaux
Secretary General
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 Catholic Maritime News Summer 2015
Courtesy: AOS United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Sr. Joanna Okereke
Assistant Director - Cultural Diversity in the Church
Dear Friends,
Sr. Joanna Okereke would like to share with you the Summer issue of Catholic Maritime News.
Catholic Maritime News Summer 2015
There is a lovely write up on the Mass for the Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and the People of the Sea, and the dedication of the Roundel at the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and more. Please read!
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 High Praise from our Friend: AOS Receives Recognition in ISWAN Report By: Fr. Sinclair K. Oubre, JCL
AOS - Diocese of Beaumont, TX
Maritime ministry can be so busy that it is hard to lift our heads to see the good work we do. Arriving at the seafarer center, we look over the pilot's list for new arrivals. These ships then go on top of the vessels that we were not able to visit the previous day. Now the list is longer, and even more daunting.
We also know that the ships on the pilot's list are not the totality of our day's task. There are the inland towing vessels that call at the same facilities as many of the foreign-flagged ships, and there are the local fishing vessels that we see sailing out. We always make a note in our heads, "When I get some time, I've got to get out and see those guys! I wonder who I need to talk with?"
So, in the midst of feeling that we do so little in the face of the task before us, I was tremendously pleased to read the great recognition that the Apostleship of the Sea received in the recently issued SeafarerHelp Annual Review 2014 from the International Seafarer's Welfare and Assistance Network.
For 2014, the assistance network saw a 52.7% increase in its case load, involving 7,710 seafarers and their families. These cases were generated by seafarers from 84 nationalities, and involved seafarers in 113 countries.
These cases are managed by SeafarerHelp themselves, or are referred to an appropriate agency. Of these, 21.3 % are referred to the ITF Inspectorate, 10.8% are referred to the ITF's Maritime Operations, and 10.1% were referred to Crewtoo. The Apostleship of the Sea received 8% of the referrals, and was the most referred agency among maritime ministries.
The report notes, "...the number of referrals to the Apostleship of the Sea has increased significantly because of the large increase in the number of contacts from Filipino seafarers, who are mostly Roman Catholic."
The report then shares four case studies. Of these, three of the cases express the cooperation and coordination between SeafarerHelp and the Apostleship of the Sea.
AOS-USA congratules AOS-Johannesburg for visiting a seafarer before and after his bypass surgery, and for coordinating his travel back to the Philippines.
Congratulations also goes out to AOS-Philippines for acting as the mediator between ISWAN's Seafarer's Emergency Fund, and a seafarer and his family during his recovery. AOS was able to transfer $4,700 to the seafarer and his family to assist them while the he recovered.
AOS-Philippines also worked with the widow of a seafarer who had died of natural causes in Taiwan. After being at the funeral home for two weeks, the widow became concerned about his repatriation. She contacted AOS-Philippines, who then reached out to SeafarerHelp. Through SeafarerHelp's Chinese-speaking agent, the ship's agent's phone number was discovered. The ship's agent was then able to provide SeafarerHelp with accurate information on the status of the mariner's repatriation. SeafarerHelp was then able to accurately pass on this information through one of their Filipino-speaking agents.
What a blessing to read how helpful our AOS compatriots were, and how much our work is appreciated outside of our own circle.
To read the full report, go to:
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Important Note!
The Catholic Seafarers' Center in Seattle has Moved!
Courtesy: Dahra Latham, AOS Seattle
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Editor's note: I had the opportunity to visit the old Center in Seattle last August, and pray one last time in the chapel. Our prayers are now with AOS Seattle for a healthy, productive ministry for many years to come, in their new home.
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The Catholic Seafarers' Center of Seattle has moved from its long-time home at 2330 1st Avenue, in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, to a new location closer to the container port.
The Center has occupied the same building since the 1950's, when the north end of the waterfront was a busy maritime industry neighborhood and home to most of Seattle's maritime union halls. Over time, changes to the industry have moved shipping activity away from Belltown, making the 1st Avenue location impractical.
In the new location, the Catholic ministry will be co-located with the Lutheran and Episcopal seafarers' ministries at the ecumenical Seattle Seafarers' Center, and the Catholic organization will conduct its separate activities under the name Catholic Seafarers' Ministry of Seattle.
The new address is:
Catholic Seafarers' Ministry
3568 W Marginal Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106
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 Sea Services Pilgrimage - Oct 4
Courtesy: The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will welcome visitors on October 4 for its annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services. Members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and The United States Public Health Service along with family members and friends are invited gather at the Basilica and celebrate a special mass at 3 p.m.
This event is held each year to honor Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as Patroness of the Sea Services and ask for her intercession for all the men and women serving in our nation's Sea Services, and is the only event of its kind in the United States. Each year, the Sea Services Pilgrimage draws hundreds of visitors to the Shrine for a Mass and dinner reception.
"This year we are honored to have Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio celebrate Mass," said Rob Judge, executive director of The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Archbishop Broglio oversees the diocese of Military Services, which supports and provides spiritual enrichment for those serving for our country. "It is an honor to have Admiral William Fallon, U.S. Navy (Retired) chair the Sea Services committee each year," said Judge. "We are blessed to have Admiral Fallon leading a renewed effort with the committee, who is instrumental in coordinating the annual event, in spreading devotion to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as the Patroness of the Sea Services."
For more details click:
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An Urgent Please to Save our Industry
Courtesy: Texas Shrimp Association
The Texas Gulf Shrimp Industry is currently facing one of our biggest challenges that has the potential to devastate our industry - the increase of imported farm raised shrimp that enters our country virtually untested and unregulated.
Consumer Report magazine recently reported that a high percent of the imported shrimp contain harmful chemicals and antibiotics - most of which are banned in the US and can be potentially harmful for consumption. The FDA only tests .8% of imported shrimp which has earned us the reputation as the "dumping grounds" for imported shrimp. Most other countries destroy the shrimp to protect the consumers, however in the U.S., the shrimp are sent back to their country of origin, or unfortunately simply re-enters another port. After all, there is a 99% chance this shrimp will end up on your plate. This in turn has pushed shrimp prices to a 35 year low!
To compound this problem, resent surveys suggest that people have no idea what they are consuming and find most labels on packaged shrimp, signs at seafood counters, and menus at restaurants completely confusing. Causing most to question why they would pay a premium price for gulf shrimp when they are not confident in what will end up on their plate.
Recently TSA conducted an informal study and dined at 25 (non -chain) restaurants throughout the state that serve shrimp. When we inquired about the origin of the shrimp, 20 restaurants said the shrimp were from the Gulf and 5 conveyed the shrimp were imported from an Asian County. After digging a little deeper, turns out that only 2 of the 25 restaurants were actually serving gulf shrimp. Which sums up a problem that needs to be addressed ASAP - the lack of transparency in regards to labeling laws.
Contrary to popular belief, the Texas Gulf Shrimp Industry is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world. Our industry has been very proactive in the overall coastal conservation and sustainable efforts. We are required to pull TED's (turtle excluder devices) that are 97% effective, BYRD's (by catch reduction devices) that have decreased our by catch to record lows. In fact, the Texas Gulf Shrimp industry was recently applauded for our sustainable achievements. However our successes has come at a high price. The by catch devices cost each boat owner approximately $50,000 per year - per boat, in loss of production, not to mention the added cost of this device and additional training for the crew. We have accepted the fact that our Government is not coming to our rescue. We don't receive millions of dollars by way of donations or Government grants, and probably won't see one penny from the BP, Deep Water Horizon oil spill settlement. So I pose this question, if millions of dollars are strategically channeled to well unified organizations whose primary agenda is to stop gulf shrimping, wouldn't it make since that a small fraction of this money be allocated back to our industry so we can at least participate in sustainable research, purchase more efficient gear, and better educate our crew?
The Texas Shrimp Association (TSA) was formed in 1950 as a non- profit organization whose primary goal is to protect and grow the Texas Gulf Shrimp industry. This sounds pretty simple but in actuality our industry is one of the most regulated, complex, dangerous, misconstrued industries in the world. Our organization not only promotes gulf shrimp, but deals with a broad array of issues such as crew safety, environmental topics, gear enhancement, crew training, labeling laws, import issues and that's just to name a few. We work closely with the Coast Guard, TPWD, NMFS, NOAA, Sea Grant, Go Texan, and several coastal conservation organizations to stay abreast of new or changing regulations. Just recently TSA was involved with our legislatures to successfully re open the Visa Worker application process, ensuring that our boats have a full crew for the start of the season (July 15th). Visa workers make up approximately 30% of our crew.
TSA is urging consumers to contact their state and federal representatives to demand more transparency in menu labeling laws and stop the flood of potentially harmful imported shrimp. For now, we continue shrimping with the faith that the American Consumer will not only choose Gulf Shrimp (product of USA) over a foreign imported farm raised shrimp, but more importantly, will exercise their right to demand to know the origin of the shrimp!
Lastly, TSA is asking for your monetary support by joining our organization so we can unite and lobby successfully on behalf of our industry. Membership information can be found on our website www.TexasShrimpAssociation.com
Sincerely,
Andrea Hance
Executive Director
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Commercial Fishing Industry Reeling from Mental Health Crisis
Courtesy: Deakin University
Aug 11, 2015
Chronic job insecurity has led to a mental health crisis and high rates of suicide among Australian commercial fishers, according to a new Deakin University study published this month in Marine Policy journal.
Led by Deakin University maritime anthropologist, Dr Tanya King, the report 'A Different Kettle of Fish: Mental health strategies for Australian fishers and farmers' reveals a community under stress and struggling under the weight of government policy around fishing licences.
While the mental health issues of the farming industry - which are often linked with fishers when it comes to research data and government policy - are well documented and prevention programs well-funded, less is known about the fishing industry.
Dr King explains that part of the problem lies in how health and safety policies are applied across the board in the farming, fishing and agricultural industries without consideration of the particular issues that affect the fishing community.
"Why are the same health and safety policies applied to farmers, fishers and other agricultural workers despite there being particular features of small-scale fishing businesses that make them particularly vulnerable to depression, anxiety and suicide?" she asked.
"Insecurity of fishing concessions (quotas and licences), financial issues arising from banks tightening money to the industry, challenges accessing health care, physical risk, and politically-driven changes to government policy were all identified as major issues affecting fishers' health and well-being in small-scale fishing businesses.
"Of particular concern for fishers is the insecurity around fishing concessions. This ultimately renders fisher livelihoods insecure and we know that insecure livelihoods are a big contributor to poor mental health."
Dr King explains that the research demonstrates a real need for the separation of health research in the fishing and farming industries.
"This would allow the specific issues facing the fishing industry to be addressed, rather than assuming that policies good for farmers will necessarily work for fishers.
"It's not just people's livelihoods, or even consumer access to fresh, sustainable local seafood - people's lives are on the line," she said.
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Attention Mariners & Recreational Boaters
Cold Water Boot Camp!
Courtesy: US Maritime Safety Network
August 6, 2015
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This video demonstrates the effect of cold water on the human body - and why wearing a PFD is vital to any chance of survival in cold water. Anyone who works on or near the water, or recreates on or near it, should watch this video.
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Join AOS-USA in saying the AOS Prayer each day!
Please take the time to say this pray with us each day:
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, or we perish!
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS-USA Members
World Maritime Day September 24, 2015
AOS-USA Board Meeeting
September 28-30, 2015
World Fisheries Day
November 21, 2015
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