Author: Sarah Eustace

Apostleship of the Sea (AoS)/Stella Maris has announced that Simon O'Toole is stepping down as Chair of Trustees.
              An announcement about the new Chair will be made in due course.
              In the meantime, the Vice Chair Captain Esteban Pacha will be Acting Chair of Trustees. Captain Pacha has said, "we are grateful to Simon for all that he has achieved during his time with AoS and we wish him every success for the future”.
              Pacha reiterated that “the Board of Trustees remains focused on ensuring that Stella Maris continues to care for the physical and spiritual needs of seafarers and fishers and their wellbeing in line with its objectives”

Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has reiterated its commitment to support local fishing communities and to boost its presence in Jersey. 
             Stella Maris Vice Chair Captain Esteban Pacha, led a delegation to the Island on May 1, with AoS Southern Ports Regional Chaplain Fr John Lavers, to further enhance AoS work on Jersey that started a decade ago.
             Together with the local team of AoS ship visitors and volunteers, Capt. Pacha met the Jersey Fishermen’s Association to firm-up ties with the fishing sector and to explore ways of closer collaboration with local fishermen who operate a fleet of around 165 fishing boats. 

             This was followed by a presentation on Stella Maris’ activities to more than 500 students and staff of Beaulieu Convent School in St. Helier and headmaster Chris Beirne. 
             Capt. Pacha highlighted the vital work that seafarers and fishermen do, providing goods and food globally; particularly on islands that are fully dependent on shipping and maritime transportation.

             Passenger and freight ferry operator Condor Ferries also invited the Stella Maris delegation to visit its flagship vessel “Commodore Clipper” together with BBC Jersey reporter Cathy Le Feuvre. 

             Capt. Pacha met Jersey Port Manager Martyn Brydon and was welcomed on board by Capt. Roger Thompson and his crew. 
             Capt. Pacha, on behalf of Stella Maris, expressed his gratitude to Condor Ferries for its many years serving the ports of Poole and Jersey providing vital maritime connectivity.
             He also thanked Condor Ferries for facilitating regular ship visits by Stella Maris’ port chaplains and ship visitors, recognising the company’s commitment to promote the wellbeing of its crews on board. 

             AoS Southern Ports Regional Chaplain Fr John Lavers and Jersey ship visitors Terry Brown and Peter Bewers spoke with the mixed British-Ukrainian crew members of “Commodore Clipper” who were delighted to receive the latest edition of Stella Maris’ magazine for seafarers written in both English and Ukrainian. 
             Capt. Pacha highlighted the fact that a third of the crew are women; an apt acknowledgment of the vital role of women in shipping and the International Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day theme for 2019 “Women in Maritime”.

             During an interview by BBC Jersey, Capt. Pacha and Fr John reiterated the commitment of Stella Maris to support ship visiting and volunteer recruitment in Jersey and to further engage with Jersey’s harbours, shipping operators and fishing communities.
            They also thanked the Church in Jersey for the support provided to Stella Maris’ local team. Monsignor Nicholas France, Parish Priest and former Catholic Dean in Jersey and one-time AoS Trustee put out an appeal in 2007 for someone to set up the charity in Jersey.
            With Jersey being an island and relying on shipping Monsignor France thought AoS should have a presence in Jersey. 

            The Knights of St. Columba, Council 216, Jersey, took on this task and in 2008 a branch of AoS was set up in Jersey with the kind assistance of the Ports of Jersey.
            Five members of the Knights of St Columba became volunteer ship visitors, a couple of years later one lady joined its ranks. 
            The ships that visit Jersey include small coasters, gas and oil tankers and ferries on route to and from Poole and Portsmouth and St. Malo, the crews of which are all visited by our AoS volunteers.
            The crews are provided with practical items such as woolly hats, toiletries, biscuits and confectionery as well as pastoral support. 
            Every year for the past six or seven years AoS Jersey together with the Knights of St Columba, on May Bank Holiday, has a fundraising function, a Sponsored ‘Walking on Water to France’, walking around St. Catherines’ Breakwater 18 times, the distance of 23 km to the coast of France.

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AoS (Stella Maris) in Jersey held their annual 'walk to France' fundraising event on May 6.
              The weather was kind, a little chilly but all in all it was a success as always.
              Huge thanks to our fantastic team in Jersey for organising it and to all who so kindly donated very generously.
              Monies collected will go to AoS (80%) and the Knights of St Columba Charity Fund (20%).
              The star of the whole event was of course Mr Jimmy Spriggs, who at 70 years of age walked the whole 18 laps and was the Walk's super fund raiser (raising at least 1/3 of total income of over £2,000.)
              Huge thanks Jimmy!

AoS volunteers Terry Brown and Peter Farrell with Jimmy Spriggs 

Margaret Lynes, and Terry Brown, Catholic Dean of Jersey and Island Parish Priest Cannon
Dominic Golding, Fr. Benjamin Theodore, Volunteers Peter Farrell and Peter Bewers 

 Jimmy Spriggs 70 year old walk super fund raiser for the walk 
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Apostleship of the Sea/Stella Maris London Officer and Parish Contact for England & Wales Roland Hayes was invited to speak at a gathering of the Southend Catenians recently about our ministry supporting seafarers spiritual, pastoral and practical needs.
             He was presented with a cheque for £110 at the end of his talk.
             Huge thanks to them for their kind support and generous gift.

More photos on our Facebook Page.

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Due to maintenance we are not able to accept online donations on Thursday May 23rd 2019 from 1pm to 9pm. We apologise for the inconvenience.

A port chaplain in Canada has spoken about the grief felt by the family and crew mates of a Sri Lankan seafarer who fell overboard in the Saint Lawrence River. 
             Fr Andrew Thavam, the Montreal chaplain from seafarers’ charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) was one of the first people to meet the Maersk Patras crew when the containership berthed at the port the day after the incident on May 19. 
             Fr Andrew (pictured below) said the crew were still in a state of shock when he went on board, so he provided support and stayed with them while the authorities conducted enquiries. The ship’s agent and other officials were also present.
             “On their second day in port, I took the crew to the seafarers centre as the men said they were tired from all the enquiries and wanted to get away from the ship. We spoke about the distressing situations they had been through, and I also offered counselling. They were visibly more relaxed and in better spirits when they returned to the vessel,” said Fr Andrew, who continued to support and visit the crew during their stay at port. 

             Sri Lankan-born Fr Andrew also spoke to the family of the missing seafarer in Sri Lanka. “Naturally they were devastated. I did my best to console them. They asked for my prayers in the slim chance he would still be alive. 
             “What was more heart-breaking is that the seafarer had boarded the ship only ten days before the incident and celebrated his 29th birthday just two days before the unfortunate event,” said Fr Andrew. 
             The shipping company and ship owner, Maersk, has confirmed that the search and rescue operation has been called off.
             “It is with regret we have received the news that the search and rescue operation was unsuccessful, and we must conclude that we have lost our colleague. It is a tragic situation for the family and we have offered them our full support. My deepest condolences and thoughts go to them,” said Søren Toft, COO of A.P. Moller-Maersk. 
             Maersk says it is in contact with the seafarer’s relatives as well as the crew, who will receive crisis counselling.

* More news about Stella Maris'/AoS' work in Canada can be seen on the AoS Canada website here.
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Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) was given a warm welcome when volunteer Andy McDonald (MBE) made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Alloa. 
              Andy, AoS parish contact for Our Lady & St NInian in Bannockburn Scotland, spoke to the group in Alloa and was delighted to discover that one member present spent as much time at sea as he had, with 70 years shared equally between them. 
              Andy, who was an engineer in the Royal Navy, told those present how AoS was founded in Glasgow in 1920 ahead of next year’s Centenary and how the charity reaches out with practical and spiritual support to all seafarers. 
              The members were interested to hear about Grangemouth port and its close proximity to the town of Alloa which is situated near to the River Forth. 
              There was genuine appreciation of how seafarers are so important to everyday life in providing essential goods as well as time to reflect on the support provided by dedicated AoS port chaplains, and volunteer ship visitors. 
              Andy responded to a wide-range of questions, and in return encouraged those in attendance to check the AoS website for any further information. Michael Clark, from the Rotary group, said, “We thank Andy for his interesting and educational presentation. It was enjoyed by everyone and made us realise just how vital it is for seafarers to be given such strong support.”

From left to right: Rotary President Alistair Spowage, Ray Gill and Andy.
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Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) Acting Chair of Trustees, Dr Esteban Pacha participated in the events to mark the 40th anniversary of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) in his capacity as Director General Emeritus of IMSO. 

In a speech on Monday, June 3 in London, Dr Esteban described satellite-based broadband as being "key to connect the oceans and the skies, providing access to broadband on board ships and planes, thus improving efficiency of shipping and aviation and connecting millions of seafarers, crews and passengers while on the move.”

He also made a call to “keep connected those who rely on satellite communications for their business, for their safety or security, or just for keeping in contact with their loved ones and maintain their social life while at sea, in the skies or in remote areas.”

Seafarers can spend weeks at a time at sea with limited or no internet access, so reliable and regular conenctivity on board makes a huge difference towards alleviating the emotional stresses associated with being separated from family. AoS is committed to ensuring seafarers are supported pastorally and emotionally.
 
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The drizzle and cold weather failed to dampen the Day of Prayer and Pilgrimage organised by Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on June 8. 
              Parishioners, priests, volunteers and supporters from the Dioceses of Hexham & Newcastle and Middlesbrough turned up in the hundreds to pray for seafarers and for the work of Apostleship of the Sea’s annual event, now in its 16th year. 
              They were joined by AoS Bishop Promoter for England and Wales and Bishop of the Forces Bishop Paul Mason, AoS Senior Regional Port Chaplain (North East) Anne McLaren and AoS North East of England port chaplains Paul Atkinson and Deacon Peter Barrigan. 
              AoS Acting Chair of Trustees Dr Esteban Pacha, AoS National Director Martin Foley, and AoS Tilbury Port Chaplain Wojciech Holub also attended the event. 

              Due to the risk of rain, the traditional ‘Celtic Prayers on the Beach’ – normally held at the beach opposite St Cuthbert’s Island – was moved indoors to the St Vincent De Paul Ozanam Camp. 
              About 200 people joined in this mix of music, readings and prayer, directed by former Navy chaplain and AoS former trustee Monsignor Ronnie Brown.
              Over the years this has become extremely popular and sets the tone for a peaceful and reflective day. Special thanks to Stephen Terry for providing the music. 
              The day ended with Mass of Pentecost in St Mary’s Anglican Church, concelebrated by Bishop Paul, Mgr Ronnie Brown, Fr Shaun Purdy, Fr Tony Hoggarth and Deacon Peter.

              Special thanks to the Vicar, The Reverend Canon Dr Sarah Hills, for allowing us the use of the church and for her hospitality. 
              In what has also now become something of a tradition, Scottish piper Andy played 'Amazing Grace' and 'Skye Boat Song', guiding the procession before and after Mass. 
              The day marked a special day of prayer and fellowship, a good build up to Sea Sunday which falls on the weekend of July 13 and 14, when parishes in the dioceses and around Great Britain pray for and remember seafarers for all they do. 

From left: Andy (the piper), Monsignor Ronnie Brown (AoS former Trustee), Hugh Ward (AoS Tees
ship visitor), Bishop Paul Mason, Fr Tony Hoggarth, Jimmy Ross (AoS Tees ship visitor), Fr Shaun
Purdy, and Deacon Peter Barrigan.

More photos can be found on our Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/apostleshipofthesea/albums/72157709061212293
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Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) Aberdeen ship visitor John Murray has been featured in the Scottish Catholic Observer.
              John speaks about how his faith has inspired him to become a volunteer with AoS to support seafarers. We encourage you to read the article which can be found by going to this link here.  

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