Author: Nathaniel Xavier

Fr Paulo Prigol, Stella Maris Manila Port Chaplain celebrated the first live-streamed Mass broadcast direct to seafarers on Isle of Man registered ships.

Mass was beamed through the Isle of Man Ship Registry’s new seafarer welfare app, and by teaming up with Stella Maris, Mass will be available live to 10,000 seafarers and 400 ships sailing under its flag.

Below is a press release issued by the company.

The Isle of Man Ship Registry has become the first flag state to broadcast a Mass direct to crew aboard its ships.

Isle of Man Ship Registry director Cameron Mitchell said the Masses are being made possible through its new seafarer welfare app ‘Crew Matters’, which has been developed in partnership with Liverpool-based training company Tapiit Live.

The app enabled the Mass to be beamed live from a church in Manila in the Philippines with technical support from Tapiit’s UK team. The Mass was held by Father Paulo Prigol, the chaplain of Stella Maris Manila, who is part of the Scalabrinian Missionaries which is responsible for seafarer welfare.

Mr Mitchell said the Mass was a success and the registry planned to stage a Mass each weekend which will be available to all catholic crew among the 10,000 seafarers and 400 ships sailing under its flag.

Mr Mitchell said the ultimate aim will be to offer religious services to seafarers of all faiths and denominations where there is a demand.

Ian Stokes, Head of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships at Stella Maris, said: “Faith is a very important part of life for many seafarers and it has taken on additional significance under the current conditions.

“Seafarers have been under increased pressure during the pandemic and have additional concerns for their families from whom they have been separated for many months, sometimes years. Not being able to practice their faith ashore due to Covid restrictions has removed an invaluable facet to their coping and wellbeing strategies, so having access to Mass through the Isle of Man App is a superb innovation. We are delighted to be a part of this ground-breaking venture.”

Mr Mitchell said the app is designed to encourage seafarers to spend less time alone in their cabin.  He said functions include providing social activities such as live gym workouts to Tapiit’s award-winning training classes.

“The app provides structured welfare support for the seafarer, ranging from a health and wellbeing self-help library that includes nutritional advice, through to Tapiit Live’s interactive support sessions,” he said.

“Users will have access to a full month’s agenda of physical and mental wellbeing classes and educational trainings, including fitness and yoga sessions. Seafarers can also log their work and rest hours, and if they feel stressed or unwell there is a live SOS function which provides immediate access to the Seafarers Help Live Chat, which is free, confidential and available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. In addition, the app connects to Stella Maris and enables seafarers to find contact details for its chaplains in 54 countries.”

On a practical level, Cameron said the app also tackles the problem of storing seafarer documentation in one place, as well as providing a link to trade union Nautilus with details of membership, news, careers, and jobs and training opportunities.  He said the app contains a wealth of information from the ship registry including the master’s handbook, shipping notices, IOMSR news feeds, marine traffic and local port services.

Pope Francis has voiced his concern for stranded seafarers affected by the crew change crisis and urged governments to do all they can to repatriate them. 

In his Angelus address yesterday (20th December), the Holy Father said, “The coronavirus pandemic has caused particular distress to seafarers. Many of them – an estimated 400,000 worldwide – are stuck on the ships beyond the terms of their contracts and are unable to return home.  

“I ask the Virgin Mary, Stella Maris, to comfort these people and all those who live in difficult situations, and I urge governments to do everything possible so that they can return to their loved ones.” 

In June, Pope Francis sent a video message of encouragement to seafarers, acknowledging the difficulties they face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Holy Father also dedicated his prayer intention for the month of August to people of the sea, asking the faithful to pray for seafarers, fishers, and their families. 

The Pope’s comments yesterday came as Catholic churches in many parts of the UK celebrated “Sea Sunday”: the day every year when church communities remember, pray for and support seafarers and fishers through the work of seafarers’ charity Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea).

So far 45 countries have designated seafarers as key workers, which has helped alleviate the ongoing crew change crisis brought about by national border closures, visa restrictions, airline cancellations and other challenges which have prevented seafarers from returning home.

Martin Foley, chief executive of the charity said that, whilst the progress so far is encouraging, more governments needed to step up and make crew change a priority. 

“Seafarers are among the heroes of this pandemic and we are grateful to Pope Francis for highlighting their plight. Unfortunately, because of the current situation, many who have finished their contracts will not be able to make it home for Christmas to be with their families,” he said. 

This has left a psychological toll on many seafarers, Martin added. He said for its part, Stella Maris continues to visit seafarers on ships, when permitted, or meet them at the gangway, with social distancing in place. 

“It’s important seafarers know that they are not forgotten, especially at this time of year, and that we are there to support them”. 

See our Sea Sunday resources and appeal video at: https://www.stellamaris.org.uk/sea-sunday/

After the Angelus on Sunday 18th October, the Holy Father turned his thoughts to the captured Italian, Indonesian, Senegalese and Tunisian crew members, and said, “I would like to address a word of encouragement and support to the fishers stopped for more than a month in Libya and to their families. By entrusting themselves to Mary, Star of the Sea, they may keep alive the hope that soon they will be able to embrace their loved ones”.

Before concluding the Angelus, Pope Francis once again mentioned the men’s plight and expressed his closeness to their families, asking those present in St Peter’s Square to pray in silence together for the fishers and for peace in Libya.

The fishing boats “Antartide” and “Medinea” were captured by the militias of General Haftar, about 35 miles north of Benghazi, in international waters (disputed between Italy and Libya) in a stretch of sea within the so-called EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) that Libya unilaterally established in 2005 and which extends for 62 miles beyond the 12 conventional miles of national territorial waters.

The vessels’ owners and the fishers’ families have appealed to the Italian government and done everything possible to bring their loved ones’ home.  In the past weeks Monsignor Domenico Mogavero, Bishop of Mazara del Vallo, met the family members of the 18 fishers several times, expressing closeness and concrete support from the Church to the families.

Since its foundation one hundred years ago on 4th October 1920, Stella Maris has always upheld the dignity of seafarers and fishers, and considers it appalling that the 18 fishers, who were at work to support their family, are criminalised and detained away from their loved ones for weeks now.

Stella Maris said, “These fishers are caught up, through no fault of theirs, in a complicated political game that transcends themselves and their hard work. We express solidarity with the fishers and their families and hope for a resolution soon.”

One of the fishing vessels owners told Stella Maris he felt reassured after hearing the Holy Father’s address. “The Pope’s words strengthen our hope and were a comfort for our heart,” he said.

The mother of one of the captured fishers added, “The Pope’s words have warmed our hearts and we hope that they can also reach the Libyans so that soon we can embrace our loved ones again.”

A message from Stella Maris Great Britain Chair of Trustees Dr Esteban Pacha on the occasion of Stella Maris’ Centenary Mass held in Glasgow on October 4^th 2020.

Good afternoon, good morning and good evening to all those Stella Maris colleagues and friends from wherever you are following this live-streamed Centenary Mass.

On behalf of Stella Maris GB, I want to thank you for joining us to mark 100 years of ministry around the world, since our mission was started in the margins of river Clyde, here in Glasgow.

In this extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances, what a better way to start our Centenary Year than in prayer for seafarers, fishers and their families!

Therefore, special thanks to Archbishop Philip Tartaglia for hosting and celebrating this historic Centenary Mass, to remember those who preceded us, to pray for the people of the sea, and to inspire current and future chaplains, ship visitors  and associates, to do more to expand our maritime pastoral around the world and to the peripheries of the oceans.

Today, the work of the seafarers is more essential than ever, as international shipping transports more than 80% of global trade, including food and medicines, goods and energy, to peoples and communities all over the planet.

In addition, the millions of fishers working on board the fishing fleets on the oceans and in coastal communities, supply more than one third of world’s food.

On the occasion of this year’s Day of the Seafarer, and in his prayer intention for the last month of August, Pope Francis has twice paid tribute to the people of the sea, highlighting how their lives and their work have seen significant changes due to global pandemic, and recognising their sacrifices to maintain the flow of commerce and the supply of food. And the Pope has also said to seafarers that “they are not alone and will never be forgotten”.

These words have been indeed inspirational to seafarers, as they are also inspirational to all of us and to our mission, having the Pope also made an appeal, through the work of Stella Maris, “to continue with great vigour to support all those people who work upon the sea”.

This should be our commitment for this Centenary Year and the years to come:

To tirelessly continue providing now, more than ever, long-term support to seafarers, fishers and their families; as well as supporting global efforts to promote sustainable shipping and sustainable fishing sectors, thus enhancing welfare of those who work at sea, both today and into the future.

In as many languages I can, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Centenary Year, looking forward to having the opportunity to meet you in person, here in Glasgow, in a year time, on the occasion of our postponed 25th Stella Maris World Congress.

JE VOUS SOUHAITE A TOUS A JOYEAUX CENTENAIRE

AUGURO A TUTTI VOI UN FELICE CENTENARIO

OS DESEO A TODOS UN MUY FELIZ CENTENARIO

It has grown into the largest ship visiting network in the world, providing seafarers with practical and pastoral support, information, and a friend in times of need. 

Founded in Glasgow on 4 October 1920, Stella Maris is now a truly international network, with over 1,000 chaplains and volunteers in 330 ports across 60 countries.  This remarkable team makes 70,000 ship visits annually to vessels of all flags and nationalities.  They look after the wellbeing and welfare of seafarers, regardless of race, creed or faith.

For more information on the work of Stella Maris and how you can support us during our centenary year please contact Ian Stokes, Head of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships on 07732 682090 or email [email protected]

The charity’s new logo and brand update unifies its global network, bringing together the various Stella Maris services worldwide into a single mission and giving it greater recognition in ports around the world.

The ‘Stella Maris’ name is recognised widely among seafarers, fishers, and their families who identify the charity’s chaplains and volunteers as “the ones from Stella Maris”.

“Our ministry has global reach and impact. Having a unified logo will help us publicise and celebrate the wonderful work being accomplished,” said Fr Bruno Ciceri, International Director of Stella Maris Network in Vatican City.

Effective immediately “Stella Maris” will be the official name of the charity, replacing “Apostleship of the Sea”.

Fr Bruno adds, “Stella Maris has greater potential for global reach and the term also translates well into non-Roman alphabet systems, including Cyrillic and Chinese. Both these language systems are important to the shipping industry and the crews of ships.”

The launch of the logo also coincides with the Feast of Stella Maris, Our Lady Star of the Sea – the charity’s patron saint – celebrated today.

The name and brand change comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has seen the maritime industry grappling with the challenges created by this new health crisis, including travel restrictions imposed by governments resulting in thousands of seafarers who have finished their contracts unable to return home.

“As we assume the name Stella Maris and refresh our logo our chaplains and volunteers are similarly renewing and refreshing their ministry to seafarers, fishers and their families,” says Fr Bruno.

“The traditional Stella Maris approach towards the provision of pastoral care needs to be revised in this crisis and we are finding inventive and new ways to be present on the docks and be a Church that sails with the people of the sea,” he adds.

Logo explanation

The new Stella Maris logo has been designed to sit comfortably within the maritime sector context while expressing the distinctive nature of our charitable service offering and Catholic foundations. Translated from Latin, the name “Stella Maris” means “Star of the Sea”.

The elements within the symbol characterise Stella Maris’ mission.

The anchor symbolises Hope: when the anchor is dropped at sea, it holds fast to keep the ship and crew safe – just as we hold fast to our hope in God to keep us safe.

The lifesaver symbolises Faith: when a seafarer falls into the sea, they put their trust in the lifesaver to save them – just as we put our faith in God for eternal salvation.

The heart symbolises Charity: the heart of Christ is full of love for all – our charitable works are animated by the love of Christ.

The rays of light symbolise the Light of Christ: the light emanates from the Heart of Christ (the heart), shines towards our Faith (the lifesaver) and is rooted in Hope (the anchor).

And finally, the waves of the sea mark the environment for our mission – a source of livelihood for seafarers, but also a reminder of danger and death. Accepting and believing in Faith, Hope and Charity leads seafarers and their families to the safe harbour of Heaven.

100 years of supporting seafarers

Stella Maris was founded in Glasgow in October 1920 and established to support seafarers in need. One hundred years later it is the largest ship visiting network in the world, providing seafarers with practical and pastoral support, information, and a friend in times of need. 

To watch a video about our new logo and to download Stella Maris’ new logo and brandkit go to stellamaris.org.uk/brand

In the light of the continued uncertainty around coronavirus, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have decided to postpone Sea Sunday 2020 from July 12 to December. The date has not yet been finalised, but it is likely to be either Sunday 13 or Sunday 20 December.

As you know, the income generated from Sea Sunday is crucial in maintaining our support for seafarers and fishers, but it is also an excellent opportunity to spread awareness of our work to others. We are very grateful that the Bishops have found a way to rearrange Sea Sunday and we look forward to celebrating seafarers and fishers in churches with you in December.

We will update you as soon as we have more information.