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Prayer Requests:
Prayer For Hurricane Season
Bishop Maurice Schexnayder (2nd Bishop of Lafayette, LA)
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.
For all seafarers who are just starting their careers, especially those who are struggling to find work in the current economic climate.
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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World Fisheries Day Next Monday Dear Friends, As we approach World Fisheries Day this coming Monday, we have several special articles to share with you. First, we have a video of our Fishing Representative to the AOS-USA Board, Capt. Pietro Parravano. Pietro gave a presentation at the recent NAMMA Conference & AOS Regional Conference for North America. It was an excellent presentation on what it is to be a Fisherman in North America, what the life is about, the dignity and importance of the work, and the needs that our US Fishermen have. Please take time to view it! There is also a special Statement from AOS Vatican for World Fisheries Day, and an invitation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for a special event which you can join via live streaming. Read on! Doreen M. Badeaux Secretary General
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Editor's Note:
The time will be 11:00 AM Italy time (GMT+1).
Please share this invitation with your colleagues!
The violation of human rights within the fishing sector and illegal,
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Event on the occasion of World Fisheries Day
21 November 2016
Sheikh Zayed Centre, 11.00 hours
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See have the pleasure to extend an invitation to Permanent Representatives to participate in the event which will be held on the occasion of World Fisheries Day - "The violation of human rights within the fishing sector and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing". This event is co-organized by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See and FAO.
Please find attached the Programme.
World Fisheries Day Programme
On the occasion of this event, the Message of the Holy See for the 2016 World Fisheries Day will be presented at the event. This Message, which has been issued by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (Vatican City) every year since 2011, will be officially announced to the public for the first time from FAO Headquarters by his President.
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Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
World Fisheries Day Message
World Fisheries Day since 1998 is celebrated each year on November 21 to highlight the importance of conserving the ocean and marine lifethat provides food for billions and employment opportunities for over 50 million people worldwide.
Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter Laudato Sì mentions some of the threats which are affecting and destroying the natural marine resources: "Many of the world's coral reefs are already barren or in a state of constant decline. "Who turned the wonder world of the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of colour and life?[1]"This phenomenon is due largely to pollution which reaches the sea as the result of deforestation, agricultural monocultures, industrial waste and destructive fishing methods, especially those using cyanide and dynamite (No. 41)". Since these are a common patrimony of humanity, Pope Francis calls everyone to:"...cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents (No. 14)".
For this reason, we appreciate and wait with expectation for the implementation of The Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA), adopted as a FAO Agreement in 2009. After several years of diplomatic efforts finally it went into effect, last June 5, and is now legally binding for the 29 countries and one regional organization which signed it[2]. Through the adoption and implementation of effective port State measures, the PSMA is the first ever-binding international treaty seeking to prevent, deter and eliminate the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a major environmental problem which causes great economic damages and threaten food security in many countries[3].
However, our concern is not only for the marine resources. The fishing industry has been widely recognized as one of the most unsafe for the frequency of occupational accidents and high death rates. On this World Fisheries Day we would like to call our attention also on the many fishers which find themselves in situation of exploitation and abuses.
Unfortunately it is not well known the tragic reality that, within the fishing industry, there are hundreds of thousands of internal/transnational migrants who are smuggled/ trafficked for forced labor on board of fishing vessels.
This is favored by a network of criminal organizations and individuals who prey on people coming from situation of poverty, eagerly seeking an employment that could help them to break away from the circle of misery. Instead, they end up in a situation of trafficking, debt bondage and slavery often without a way out. In fact, the fishing vessels stay out at sea for long periods (from a few months to several years), and the victims of these crimes find it difficult, if not impossible, to report their predicaments.
Heeding the call of Pope Francis: "Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free the victims and stop this increasingly aggressive crime which threatens not only individuals but the basic values of society and of international security and justice, to say nothing of the economy, and the fabric of the family and our coexistence.[1]", we as Catholic Church would like to renew our appeal to the Governments to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), to create a safe working environment on board of fishing vessels and better welfare provisions for fishers. As of October 2016 the Convention has been ratified by nine coastal states[2], and one more country is necessary for the entry into force of the Convention.
While we express our gratitude to the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea
(AOS) for their dedication and commitment, we would like to call on them to be vigilant and intensify their presence in fishing harbors to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. It is also necessary that AOS work more closely with leaders of fishing communities to educate and prevent human trafficking by providing viable alternative of employment and live hood.
May Mary Stella Maris continue to be the source of strength and protection to all the fishers and their families.
Antonio Maria Card. Vegliò
President
Fr. Gabriele Bentoglio
Under Secretary
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Our Lady Star of the Sea: Prints Available!
Courtesy: World Library Publications
In our October 6th E-News, we featured an image of our patroness - Our Lady, Star of the Sea (copyright © 2004, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission). This beautiful painting was created by Brother Michael O'Neill McGrath, OSFS, and was first published in the book Blessed Art Thou: Mother, Lady, Mystic, Queen. The book as well as a poster and packs of notecards with this image, are available from World Library Publications, www.wlpmusic.com , 800-566-6150.
Hpyerlinks are included so that you can quickly access more information about the artist, and quickly find how to purchase the book, posters and notecards. We hope you will find this image as beautiful and inspiring as we did. And now you know how to purchase copies for your Chapel at the Seafarers' Center, etc!
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ISWAN Launches New SeafarerHelp Website
Courtesy: ISWAN
15 November 2016
provides a free, confidential helpline service to seafarers and their families all over the world. With a multilingual team and 24-hour assistance year-round, the service helped nearly 10,000 seafarers of 86 different nationalities last year.
ISWAN has just launched a new website for SeafarerHelp that is designed to reach even more seafarers.
The new website, which can be viewed in nine different languages, provides a number of ways for seafarers and their families to get in touch, including by telephone, e-mail, Skype, text message and a Live Chat feature. Trends last year showed that seafarers preferred to contact the helpline by mobile devices over the internet, so the website is optimised for mobile use.
Seafarers can also access general information about common issues raised to the SeafarerHelp team via the website, along with downloadable resources providing guidance on health and wellbeing. The website includes ISWAN's Seafarer Centre Directory which helps seafarers find their nearest facilities in port.
Please direct seafarers in need of assistance to http://www.seafarerhelp.org/ and contact iswan@iswan.org if you would like us to send you some SeafarerHelp cards or posters.
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Sister Maris Stella "Grateful" After Serving in US Navy
Courtesy: Daily Camera
By: Sarah Kuta
7 November 2016
Sister Maris Stella always knew God had a plan for her life.
But it wasn't until she served as an officer in the U.S. Navy that she realized she was meant to enter religious life.
After four years at the U.S. Naval Academy and five years of service, she professed her perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with the Sisters of Life, a Catholic community founded in 1991 in New York.
Sister Maris Stella, now 38, moved to Denver last year with three other sisters to start the group's 10th convent and its first convent in the West. The four women visit college campuses along the Front Range -- including the University of Colorado in Boulder -- each month to connect with students.
"During college and after college, people are asking the big questions in life," she said. "'What's the meaning of my life? What's the purpose of my life?' Young men and women are struggling with the challenges of our culture and looking for an authentic way to love and a way to live that's true to them."
'Worthy cause'
Before she became a sister, Sister Maris Stella asked a lot of those same questions. Growing up in Ludlow, Mass., faith was an important part of her life, along with sports and academics.
In high school, she applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but she didn't think she would get in. The naval academy is the most selective of the military service academies, accepting roughly 8 percent of students who apply.
A sophomore-year trip to the Holy Land served as an eye-opening experience for Sister Maris Stella, who realized during the pilgrimage that God wanted her to dedicate her life to him.
After going through intense military training while also earning a bachelor's degree, she graduated in 2001 and was commissioned to serve on a destroyer off the coast of San Diego.
She served for two years as the gunnery officer, which meant she was in charge of all small arms aboard the ship.
"Our ship spent hundreds of nights out to sea off the coast of South America chasing drug traffickers," she wrote in an essay about why she entered religious life. "While I was at sea, I came to know God and the beauty of His creation through the men and women with whom I served."
Aboard the ship, far from distractions, people began asking questions and looking for meaning in their lives, Sister Maris Stella wrote. Because the ship did not have a chaplain, she was assigned to be its Catholic lay leader.
"It is astounding to me when I think of how He stayed with me, and went out to sea with me," she wrote.
Sister Maris Stella was then stationed in Naples, Italy, where she served as a liaison officer. Not far from Rome, she saw how young and alive the Catholic Church was.
"I got to know some religious communities in Europe and I saw there were other young women entering religious life who were bright and talented and realized they could have a beautiful life no matter what," she said. "It's not like it was some last option for them."
After finishing her military service at the end of 2005, Sister Maris Stella entered the Sisters of Life convent in September 2006. She said she was amazed by the group's charism -- the gift that it had to offer to the world.
The community is primarily focused on the gift of life by helping pregnant women in crisis and through a post-abortion healing mission.
"When I met the Sisters of Life, I couldn't believe that it existed in the church and in the world, just this proclamation that all life is good, life is sacred, that each person we encounter is a masterpiece of God's love," she said.
Her friends from the military -- even if they weren't Catholic -- intuitively understood why she entered religious life. Many attended the ceremony in which she took her final vows.
"They understand the meaning of sacrifice," she said. "There was this recognition that if we're willing to give up our lives for our country, surely giving your life to God is something even more noble. He's a worthy cause."
'Joy and vitality'
Sister Maris Stella spent nine years in New York at a convent there before moving to Colorado in August 2015. Now, the four sisters spend a week each month at CU, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.
When they're in Boulder, the sisters attend mass twice a day and invite students to pray with them. On average, they pray roughly four hours each day, Sister Maris Stella said.
In addition to having private meetings with students, they also hold events, such as women's dinners and ultimate Frisbee games.
On campus, the women are very visible in their white veils, white habits and dark blue scapulars. Sister Maris Stella said she's had nothing but positive -- if not amusing -- experiences while visiting Colorado's colleges.
"I was in the (CSU) cafeteria with another sister looking for a table to sit down at for lunch," she said. "There were these two guys. We asked if we could have part of their table, and they're like, 'Oh sure.' We sat with them and after a few minutes they said, 'So, you guys nuns or something?' And we're in full habit of course, so we said, 'Yeah, how'd you guess?'"
In mid-October, the sisters also held a "nun run" to raise money for charity. Karna Swanson, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Denver, said those types of activities make people take a second look at the Catholic Church.
"They wear these whole white and blue habits, they're very conspicuous and they do things that continually surprise you," Swanson said. "People love seeing them. They love talking to them and they just bring such a joy and vitality to the community at large."
Though her journey to religious life is an interesting one, students rarely ask her about it. While her military service is behind her now, Sister Maris Stella said she's still grateful for the life she led prior to entering the convent.
"It was really a huge, reformative period of my life and I'm grateful for it; I'm grateful I had the opportunity to serve," she said. "The people who influenced my life, the gifts I was given, the training I was given ... those were all extremely valuable. They say grace builds on nature. The military gave me a certain foundation of formation and character and virtue that's been helpful in religious life."
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Apostleship of the Sea port chaplain blesses R290m Floating Dock
Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain
21 September 2016
Durban Catholic priest and Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) port chaplain Fr Herman Giraldo was given the honour of blessing a new floating dock during a ceremony held at Dormac Shipyard in Durban on September 4th 2016.
Fr Herman, who is Durban port chaplain for seafarers' charity AoS, joined the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies and other dignitaries to launch the more than R290m facility.
The floating dock, christened 'Dormac Dock 1', was built in Ukraine and towed by tugboat on an 8,344 nautical mile journey via the Atlantic seaboard to South Africa.
Fr Herman said, "I feel truly privileged to be able to perform the blessing. It's a positive acknowledgment of the vital work the Church, through AoS, does in ports and in supporting seafarers.
"I'm delighted to have represented the AoS at the ceremony," he said.
In his speech at the event, Minister Davies said that about 12,000 ships call at South Africa's ports each year, while over 30,000 vessels sail along the South African coastline annually.
Many of these ships are visited by AoS port chaplains in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, who provide faith and practical support to seafarers working on board the ships.
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Fr Tom Boyer with crew members at the Crew Mass onboard Holland America Line's VEENDAM.
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I've had a great time onboard the Holland America Line VEENDAM, along with Rabbi Richard. Sunday and Monday were Rosh Hashanah. I attended his service, and he was at Mass this morning. Always good things and wonderful surprises! Fr Tom Boyer AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest Secretary, AOS-USA Administrative Board |
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Rabbi & Mrs. Richard Yellin and Fr. Tom Boyer, enjoy time together during their cruise ministry.
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Greetings from Wellington, New Zealand!  We are onboard the Holland America Line NOORDAM.
Every day our onboard community grows as one family from 10 to almost 30 on Friday.  5 PM Mass. Fr. Jean Ridly Julien AOS-USA Cruise Ship Priest And finally, from Fr. Daniel Sweeney onboard the Holland America Line MAASDAM, he sent these pictures of some of our friends Down Under! When traveling around the world, we encourage our Cruise Ship Priests to visit the Seafarers' Centers in each port.   
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Caring for Seafarers "profoundly Christian" says Cardinal Nichols
Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain
28 September 2016
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols has said that caring for seafarers is a "profoundly Christian thing to do". "An astonishing percentage of the things sold in our shops in the UK arrives by sea, underlining our dependence on those who work on these ships. To care for them is a profoundly Christian thing to do. It is also very important for the wellbeing of the country," he said.
Cardinal Nichols was speaking at a reception organised by seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) at Westminster Cathedral's Throne Room on September 22nd. Speaking about AoS' ministry, and remembering his visit to Tilbury Docks in June 2015, the Cardinal said, "I must admit what I saw of the work of the chaplains at Tilbury was enormously impressive. "For many of the ships, the support from port chaplains is hugely important in terms of seafarers' religious belief and practice. Really this is great work that goes on."
AoS, a registered charity and agency of the Catholic Bishop Conference of England & Wales, has port chaplains in Tilbury as well as in 40 other ports up and down Great Britain who visit seafarers on board their ships to offer pastoral and practical support.
Cardinal Nichols recalled growing up on the north side of Liverpool, and how the Apostleship of the Sea was very much part of his family's Catholic awareness.
"As a boy, one of the things that used to enthral me was seeing the big ships leaving the port of Liverpool. I could in those days rattle off the names of the major shipping companies, and the colours of their funnels, and tell where they'd come from and where they'd gone to."
Prior to the reception, a Mass was held at the Cathedral to pray for seafarers and to mark the feast of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Stella Maris. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Nicholas Hudson and attended by AoS supporters, volunteers and head office staff.
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Seafarers' Charity Director Mourned After Tragic Death
Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain
9 November 2016
The funeral of the national director of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) in South Africa was held on 7th November at Holy Trinity Church in Durban.
Terry Whitfield was due to travel to London for an AoS conference on seafarers' welfare on Sunday 23rd October when he was found dead in his home.
Terry had been involved in many social welfare and Church charities during his life. He had been a part of the Apostleship of the Sea in South Africa for over three decades and until 2013 coordinated the Indian Ocean region's work of the charity.
Together with many friends and colleagues at the funeral was Durban's Bishop Barry Wood. In his homily Fr Herman Giraldo, AoS Durban port chaplain, remembered Terry as a 'hard worker and a true servant of the Apostleship of the Sea... because he taught me the importance of showing love and care for seafarers'
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AOS UK & Spain Support Distressed Crew Following Fatal Accident
Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain
13 October 2016
Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) has supported the crew of the Sunmi who were distressed after a fatal accident in Gravesend, Kent on 5th October.
A port pilot from the Port of London Authority died following an accident while boarding the general cargo ship in Gravesend Reach at about 6pm.
The Russian seafarers on board at the time were disturbed and deeply saddened by what had happened, and AoS Tilbury and Thames port chaplain Wojciech Holub visited them that night and the next morning to support them.
"They were disturbed and deeply saddened as a result of the accident," said Wojciech.
He added, "There were no long conversations as they were busy, but our presence was much appreciated. We also provided them with means of communicating with their families."
The crew received further support from AoS when the ship called at Pasajes port in Spain early this week.
AoS Pasajes port chaplain Jose Ignacio visited the crew together with a Russian seafarer living in Pasajes to offer assistance.
They also gave the Captain a poster with an image of Christ.
"The crew were very grateful for all the support they got, first in the UK and afterwards in Spain," said Jose Ignacio.
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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 Fisheries Day November 21, 2016
Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program @ Houston International Seafarers' Center
February 12 - 24, 2017
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