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Prayer Requests:
For the repose of the Soul of Joseph Patronella, long time volunteer at the Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center, and AOS Diocese of Beaumont. Our prayers go out in a special way to his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Rose Patronella.
For the repose of the Soul of Fr. Paul Devine, AOS - Oakland, and for prayers of comfort for his family and friends, and his colleagues with AOS Oakland. We also ask prayers of Thanksgiving for Fr Devine's work for the People of the Sea over the years.
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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On the 3rd Day of Christmas....
Dear Friends,
On this, the 3rd Day of Christmas, we wish you "Three French Hens" in the New Year. Or rather..."Faith, Hope and Love"!
If you know the history of the Song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" it was used as a "catechism" for younger Catholics, during a time when Catholics could not worship openly. Three French Horns stood for "Faith, Hope and Love".
Click here to read more about the meaning of that song, and let's remember that's it's not time to pack up that tree yet. Let's celebrate all 12 days.
The Christ Child has just come into the world, and His Light is truly needed. Let's share that light, far and wide!
Wishing you a Blessed & Merry Christmas from all of us at AOS-USA!
Doreen M. Badeaux Secretary General
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Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People Christmas Message 2016
Dearest People of the Sea,
The liturgical celebration of Christmas reminds us of the fundamental value of universal Love and family. It will be a day that will be celebrated by many of you in a strange land with profoundly different traditions and customs, far away from your loved ones. I am convinced that the contact you will have with your families by telephone or other forms of modern technologies, will be a relief of some of the nostalgia present in your hearts - you, who are obligated to spend the holidays with your crew that is a particular "family" formed by chance and without familial ties, similar nationalities or faiths.
In our reflection on the Mystery of Christmas, we can discover that even Mary and Joseph experienced the birth of their Son, Jesus, in Bethlehem - a city that was strange and distant from their familial hometown of Nazareth. Present to welcome and greet the Saviour of the world were the shepherds who were, by chance, in the region. Yet, this difficult situation became a proclamation of God's infinite love and mercy to all men of good will.
Today, in our society where war and terrorism, poverty and misery, race and language have become reasons for conflict and violence, there is now more than ever a need for this message of God's love that overcomes discrimination, hostility and division.
The fishing industry forms a global world. Ships traverse the oceans unifying the nations. Crews unite dispersed humanity... These realities can become concrete signs of God's message of love, for God became man so that we may become brothers and sisters in the great universal human family in constant search of peace, joy and solidarity.
To all of you, wherever you find yourselves on December 25th, I wish that the celebration of Christmas be an opportunity for you to be authentic witnesses of Jesus' love. Share the peace, happiness and serenity that the Lord Jesus, born in Bethlehem, brings to the world in these festive days of joy and celebration.
May these sincere and heartfelt best wishes reach all of you, wherever you may be. Merry Christmas to you and to your families: may this celebration bear much fruit in the form of mutual love and joy.
Antonio Maria Card. Vegliņ President
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Apostolatus Maris Bulletin
December 2016
Courtesy: Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
December 2016
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Christmas Greetings from AOS Poland
Dear People of the Sea,
The Holy Infant points out the sense of direction of love towards our Father and our neighbours. We are offered this love.
May this gift join all those who are on the route to accept this love.
Blessed and happy be Christmas Time and the New Year 2017 for all of you
Fr. Edward Pracz
AOS Regional Coordinator
for Europe
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Christmas Greetings from AOS Brazil
Dear friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Att,
Fr. Samuel Fonseca Torres
and Stella Maris staff Stella Maris Santos 
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Courtesy: The Longest Johns
Enjoy this Poem by Robert Louis Stevenson set to Music!
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Seven Pakistanis Killed in Attack on Cargo Ship off Yemen Coast
Courtesy: GNGEO NEWS
22 December 2016
(Editor's Note: Sadly, in the midst of the Holiest Season, the evils of this world continue. We ask your prayers for the families of these seafarers whose lives were cut short this week.)
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|  | | Pictured is Captain Anees ur Rahman, who reportedly died along with six other crew members aboard the vessel | |
KARACHI/SANAA:
Seven Pakistani nationals were killed in a rocket attack on a cargo ship off Yemen coast on Wednesday night, Geo News has learnt.
The cargo vessel, MV Joya, was en route to Dubai from Egypt that it came under a rocket attack. Consequently, the vessel caught fire and sank.
There were eight crew members - all Pakistanis - on board the ship.
Out of these eight Pakistanis, only one man, Ship Officer Kabir, dived into sea and made it alive to the coast. All seven others, including Captain Aneesur Rahman, could not jump off the sinking ship and are believed to have died.
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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
Houston Maritime Ministry Training Program @ Houston International Seafarers' Center February 12 - 24, 2017
AOS-USA Annual Conference American Maritime Officers Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies Linthicum Heights, MD April 18 - 20, 2017
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