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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

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

 

September 15, 2015

In This Issue
Special Prayers Coming Your Way!
Celebrating the Work of Zeke Grader Commercial Fisherman & Advocate for Fishing Families!
Zeke Grader: Champion of West Coast Fisheries and Fishermen, Dies.
USMMA Catholic Chaplain, Msgr Riordan Retires.
Announcing the 2016 Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program!
ITF Commissions Panama Canal Study.
Sea Services Pilgrimage!
Join AOS-USA in saying the AOS Prayer daily!
Upcoming Events
PrayingHands
    Prayer Requests:
 
For all the Cadets, Faculty and Staff at our Maritime Academies throughout the USA, as they begin a new school year.



For all seafarers who are just starting their careers, especially those who are struggling to find work in the current economic climate.



 




 
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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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)





Special Prayers Coming Your Way!    


Dear Friends,



This past May, we joined hands with the Confraternity of Our Lady Star of the Sea, and the Apostleship of the Sea at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for a beautiful Mass of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners, and the unveiling of a marble relief of Our Lady Star of the Sea at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.



Next week, Pope Francis will be at the Basilica holding a special Canonization Mass for Fr. Junipero Serra, who founded many of the missions in California. As a member of the Serra Club, I have been excited to see this honor finally coming for Fr. Serra, and I've been happily receiving the many updates from the Basilica, regarding the events.



As part of this, I learned that one can submit intentions to be prayed for during the Papal Mass of Canonization.



So, we submitted special prayers for the entire AOS Family throughout the World, all those in maritime ministry of all faiths, and for all seafarers, fishermen and people of the sea.



Next Wednesday afternoon (September 23), know that you are being prayed for in a very special way!



Doreen M. Badeaux

Secretary General
 


Parravano, Capt Pietro Celebrating the Work of Zeke Grader Commercial Fisherman & Advocate for Fishing Families! 

By: Capt. Pietro Parravano

 Chair

AOS-USA Fishing Committee  





Sometimes, blessings and sorrow arrive on our laps at the same time. It is with these emotions that I let you know of the passing of a colleague involved with commercial fishing. Zeke Grader died on September 7, 2015 in a hospice home in San Francisco.



I have been associated with Zeke all of my career in commercial fishing. He founded the largest commercial fishing organization on the West Coast, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations (PCFFA) in 1976. These associations represent the family fishermen in California ports and also have members in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. In 1995, he established the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR), the non-profit organization under PCFFA. He served as executive director for both organization from their start to his end. I was the President of PCFFA from 1992 to 2003. I have served as President of IFR since its start in 1995. During my tenure I have known Zeke professionally and personally.



He was the ultimate advocate for fishing families at all levels-community, State and Federal. The following are my memories of working with Zeke through challenging times for commercial fishermen and their families:
  • Zeke gave human values to fish, to fishery habitat, to ecosystems, to oceans.
  • He taught us to use the centuries-old culture of the coastal communities as the cornerstone of fishery policies for sustaining commercial fishing.
  • His vision was embedded in his life long quest for teaching others the ecological, social and economic importance of sustaining domestic fisheries. He did this by his commitment and dedication to fishing families. He spent endless hours with fishermen, policy makers and NGO's.
  • As President of the Institute of Fisheries Resources, I was impressed with his strong desire to engage young people as interns for our fishery programs. Zeke gave the interns an opportunity to learn aspects of fisheries policy, fishery law, fish habitat, fish marketing and creating dialogue with adversaries. Not only was he our executive director, he was a true educator and legend.
Zeke assisted with many pieces of legislation that allowed commercial fishing to continue in many coastal communities at a sustainable level. He was the best spokesperson that we had by representing fishermen at various levels of government.



It is a coincidence that he died on Labor Day-a day that we honor workers, especially the independent fishermen, who epitomize their own labor of love.



Zeke-I know that you are in good hands. Fish is a welcomed item in Heaven. I know that you have some in your pocket!



Capt. Pietro Parravano
Chair
AOS-USA Fishing Committee


 
Zeke Grader, Champion of West Coast Fisheries and Fisherman, Dies

Courtesy: Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations & the Institute for Fisheries Resources   
 



USMMA Catholic Chaplain Monsignor Brendan Riordan Retires
Courtesy: United States Merchant Marine Academy



(Editor's Note: AOS-USA wishes Msgr Riordan a blessed and healthy retirement, and commends him for his good work for so many Cadets over the years! It was truly our pleasure to interface with him last April during a retreat for the Midshipmen.) 
  
Following mass the Co-Presidents of the Newman Club, First Classmen, Joshua Levitas and Joseph Martz presented Msgr. with photos of the Mariner's Memorial Chapel and the Newman Club.


KINGS POINT, N.Y, September 2, 2014 - The United States Merchant Marine Academy's (USMMA) Catholic Chaplain, the Reverend Monsignor Brendan P. Riordan celebrated his final mass at the Mariners' Memorial on Sunday, August 30th.



Msgr. Riordan, who has been a great friend to the Academy community since becoming pastor of St. Aloysius, Roman Catholic Church, in Great Neck in 1998, has also served at USMMA since 2014.  Msgr. was kept very busy - he celebrated Wednesday and Sunday Mass, administered the Holy Sacraments of the Catholic Church, provided Eucharistic Minister Training, supervised service projects, provided pastoral counseling and served as Advisor to the Cardinal Newman Club.



"We are very grateful to Monsignor Riordan for his dedication to the Regiment of Midshipmen", said Superintendent, Rear Adm. James A. Helis, USMS. "His spiritual guidance greatly enhanced USMMA's Chapel Services. He will be missed." Command Chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Jerry Durham echoed the Admiral's sentiments, saying, In twenty-five years of ministry I have seldom come across such a godly man as Msgr. Brendan Riordan. His grace, compassion and love for the midshipman energized and reinvigorated our Catholic community.  I am fortunate to have spent the last year co-pastoring with him here at USMMA and I will miss him greatly."



Following mass the Co-Presidents of the Newman Club, First Classmen, Joshua Levitas and Joseph Martz presented Msgr. with photos of the Mariner's Memorial Chapel and the Newman Club.  Levitas said, "Monsignor Riordan has been a true inspiration and role model to all of us midshipmen at Kings Point."



Riordan, who will retire to Florida, has promised to keep all Kings Pointers in his prayers. When one member of the Academy staff thanked Msgr. for his ministry to the midshipmen he humbly replied, "They did more for me than I did for them."
 


Announcing the 2016 Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program!

February 21 - March 3, 2016     


Dear Friends,



The Chaplains of the Houston International Seafarers' Center would like to announce the next Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program, which will be held February 21 through March 3, 2016.



The deadline for applying is December 1, 2015.

To download the application click the following link:

Houston School Application 2016



SCHOLARSHIP GRANT AND ENDORSEMENT

The Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program has been endorsed and supported by the Apostleship of the Sea in the United States of America (AOS), and the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA).



A Scholarship Grant is available for the Roman Catholic chaplains and pastoral team who minister in the U.S.A. through the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS). To apply for AOS scholarship, contact Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ; Assistant Director for Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at 202.541.3035 or [email protected].



The scholarship application deadline is November 15, 2015. Note that approved AOS scholars are expected to pay their tuition fee prior to the training-and have the lodging donation on arrival in Houston. AOS scholars will then seek reimbursement from AOS. The general requirement for this grant is that you are officially assigned to your chaplaincy by your bishop. The scholarship is limited and will be granted on a "first-come, first-serve" basis.



For other persons in need of scholarship assistance, please contact the School Coordinator (Deacon Allan Frederiksen) directly by email at [email protected].



For more information about the Houston School Contact: 

Deacon Allan Frederiksen, Coordinator 
Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program 
Houston International Seafarers' Center 
P.O. Box 9506 
Houston, TX 77261-9506 
Coordinator's Email: [email protected] 
Coordinator's Cell Phone: 832.398.0679 
Center Telephone: 713.672.0511 Center Fax: 713.672.2444  
 
ITF Commissions Panama Canal Study

Courtesy: International Transport Workers' Federation 
  
The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) has commissioned a study into the manoeuvring feasibility of the new Panama Canal locks. In a deal signed in Limassol, Cyprus on Friday the Federation is to employ the Brazil-based Funda��o Homem de Mar (FHM) to construct a mathematical model to analyse the manoeuvrability considerations for the safe transit of the locks.



Attention has been focused on the new locks, not just because of the canal's importance as a maritime route, but also because its construction has been postponed several times. Recent tests raised serious concerns about the condition of the structure, with several cracks being detected in the new locks, even though the structure should be designed to withstand earthquakes. This has created further concerns over the real date the locks will be fully operational, not to mention the low level of Gatun Lake, which temporarily reduced the canal's operative draft even before the new locks are filled.



The structure is not the only concern. The new locks will necessitate changes to canal operations. Ivan de la Guardia, general secretary of Panama's Tugboats Masters and Mates Union, said: "We have, for several months, asked to have a proper engagement to draft a new set of procedures for the new locks. This has constantly being denied by the canal administrator. Even members of parliament have pointed out that the tugboat fleet has serious deficiencies that have to be addressed".



Luis Yau, general secretary of the Engineers' Union added: "Even if the locks were ready today, one year after the original scheduled delivery, we would not be ready to operate safely and efficiently. We want the Panama Canal Authority to understand that our lives are at stake if we lack the proper operational procedures"



Severino Almeida, a council member of the FHM foundation (www.sindmar.org.br/fhm), explained that: "We have developed a series of services in our simulation centre, we are capable of making mathematical models of all kind of vessels, terminals and navigational channels in order to simulate the manoeuvrability and the feasibility of all maritime operations. We have decided to offer our solidarity and expertise to support our Panamanian colleagues and the ITF. The Panama Canal has a special meaning for all of us as seafarers and we are eager to support a better understanding of the operation of the new locks.



ITF president Paddy Crumlin, who was present in Limassol to sign the commission, stated: "The ITF is committed to using all means, including the most advanced mathematical models, in order to ensure that operations are safe for the tugboat crews and for all canal users. Any inadequate operation could have a serious impact on the international maritime trade and also on the seafarers we represent."



He concluded: "We want to support the Panamanian authorities and the international maritime community to make the new locks a success, both in terms of safety for seafarers and Panama Canal workers, but also in terms of profitability for the Panamanian government, which has made an incredible investment."
 


 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:

 

    Star of the Sea Statue

 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!

Important Upcoming Events for

AOS-USA Members






Feast of Our Lady Star of the Sea & World Maritime Day   
September 24, 2015



AOS-USA Board Meeeting 
 
September 28-30, 2015



Sea Services Pilgrimage  


October 4, 2015



World Fisheries Day 
November 21, 2015

 

 
Houston Maritime Ministry Training School 
February 21 - March 3, 2016

Houston School Application



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


Apostleship of the Sea of the U.S.A. | 1500 Jefferson Drive | Port Arthur | TX | 77642