Stella Maris Magazine July 2021 (Ukrainian)
Category: Uncategorized
Stella Maris Magazine July 2021
Annual Review 2017/18
Our Annual Review shows you where our funding comes from and how we’ve used it to make a difference over the last year.
Annual Review 2018/19
Our Annual Review shows you where our funding comes from and how we’ve used it to make a difference over the last year.
COVID-19: HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING SEAFARERS
Stella Maris chaplains continue to provide support to seafarers, fishers and their families during the Covid-19 crisis, working in close partnership with Stella Maris colleagues around the world, the maritime industry, trades unions and others.
This includes undertaking port visits in order to provide welfare packages and other support to seafarers and fishers, with the permission of port authorities and in full compliance with Government directives. We also continue to support seafarers, fishers and their families via telephone social media.
Please continue to pray for seafarers, fishers, their families and the mission of Stella Maris.
Here's just one example of how are chaplains and ship visitors in Great Britain are supporting seafarers and fishers.
Our Immingham port chaplain Bryony Watson recently delivered some welfare packages to seafarers in port. This is one of the crew members from Arklow Day who was very grateful to receive a package. He has been onboard for 5 months and was due to be going home next month but will probably have his contract extended.
More examples of how Stella Maris Great Britain are helping seafarers and fishers can be found here.
And here's an example of how are chaplains and ship visitors around the world are supporting seafarers and fishers.
Good work from our Stella Maris colleagues in Charleston, South Carolina who delivered some shopping to these crew who needed to top up on supplies. The seafarers were not allowed shore leave due to restrictions duirng Covid-19.
More examples of how our Stella Maris is helping seafarers and fishers around the world can be found here.
Can our chaplains help?
Get contact details of our chaplains in over 40 countries here.
Resources for seafarers
Faith resources for seafarers during Covid-19.
Practical advise and how to stay safe and well during Covid-19.
Stella Maris supports seafarers on the Covid-19 front line
By Greg Watts
With seafarers in the front line of maintaining the world’s supply of food, fuel and medical supplies and equipment through the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) port chaplains are continuing to provide them with practical help and pastoral care.
Its 230 chaplains, who work in over 300 ports in 41 countries, are using the telephone, social media and the port authorities to keep in contact with seafarers and to provide them with sim cards, so they can contact their families; toiletries; and other basic items.
In the Philippines, where around a third of the world’s 1.5 million seafarers come from, port chaplain in Manila and Stella Maris regional coordinator, Fr Paulo Prigol and his team are accommodating 120 seafarers in three seafarers’ centres during lockdown and providing them with daily meals.
“As of now food supply is available and we are allowed to go to the supermarket once or twice a week only. The local government units have issued identification cards for each centre.”
He added that the centres, which are cleaned daily with disinfectant, each have a gym, cable TV, and a good internet service with free Wi-Fi.
“At this moment of national lockdown, there is no way of visiting the fishers, said Fr. Rico Talisic, port chaplain in Cape Town, South Africa. “But I have contact with some of them who are on the dock. Everyday I send messages to them asking how are they, giving them updates of what is going on here in Cape and asking them to be careful and stay safe.”
Fr Talisic has been providing seafarers with data and Sim cards. “With the communication I have with them, I learned there is nothing to worry about except that many of them have no more cell phone credits to continue their communication with their family and friends and to have access the outside world beyond the port.”
In Taiwan, Fr Yance Guntur, port chaplain in Kaohsiung, has distributed hand sanitisers and face masks to a group of fishermen, who have been barred from leaving their vessels.
While the seamen's club in Ghent, Belgium, has been closed, port chaplain Fr André Quintelier and his team of volunteer ship visitors are still allowed to continue visiting vessels, but must adhere to strict health and safety guidelines.
In the UK, port chaplain to the Tyne Paul Atkinson has been putting together packages of toiletries, chocolate and prayer books for seafarers. These are delivered to ships by the harbour master, port pilots, or shipping agents.
"This way we can show our care and support for seafarers in a different way. And show we are still alongside them as they continue to sail the seas to support their families," said Paul.
Elsewhere, Steve Willows, a port chaplain in Immingham, Lincolnshire, is making rosaries with twine for seafarers, after watching a You Tube video explaining how to do it.
Esteban Pacha, chair of trustees for Stella Maris in Great Britain, and a former ship’s captain, said, “In this time of societal upheaval, ensuring the continuity of maritime trade is vital for the global supply chain and global trade flows, including currently crucial items such as vital medical supplies and equipment, as well as food and energy.
“We would not have these items were it not for seafarers. They might not be visible to us, but our lives depend on them, especially at this critical period for our world.”
* To find out more about how Stella Maris is supporting seafarers during coronavirus in Great Britain click here.
* To see how our global port chaplains are supporting seafarers during this pandemic go here.
Pastoral visits to ship visitors
Whilst continuing to be of service to seafarers and fishers, our port chaplains are also ensuring that their teams of volunteers – our ship visitors – are not forgotten during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Our Dover and Medway port chaplain John Fogarty is one example. Recently he paid a pastoral visit to one of his ship visitors, Bob Bushnell, who along with his wife Sue have been on lockdown for several weeks now.
Bob was in good form as always and really looking forward starting visiting again.
"I’m meeting with a ship visitor at home each week as this is the least I can do for our faithful volunteers who serve our people of the sea so well. Bob and Sue have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary too so many congrats to them on that achievement as well," John says.
In another pastoral visit John met John Rutland who has been looking after operations in Sheernes on the Isle of Sheppey for more than 10 years now.
John says both are looking forward to getting back to normal and to start working one of their current projects, updating the Seafarers Room in Sheerness Docks.
Just one of many ways Stella Maris port chaplains are keeping in contact with our volunteers and ensuring that while being asked to stay home they are not isolated.
* You can listen to John sharing and singing prayers in the weekly Sunday Gospel Reading and Prayer videos Stella Maris has started producing for cruise ship crews. Go here to see the videos.
Stella Maris supports cruise ship workers during pandemic
Global maritime charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) is working with P&O Cruises and Cunard to ensure their cruise ship workers who are isolating on ships off the South Coast of England during Coronavirus continue to receive pastoral support and care.
The charity's Director of Chaplaincy Fr John Lavers said, "This is one way in which we are responding to their needs and we are grateful to the company who have approached us and encouraged us to provide this assistance which is most welcomed by cruise ship workers."
Part of this outreach includes producing weekly video recordings of Sunday Gospel Readings, reflection and prayer conducted by the charity's chaplains for the company's cruise ship workers, offering a novel way of supporting their faith and pastoral needs during lockdown.
Stella Maris also organised for the head of Portsmouth Catholic Diocese to send a message of support and prayer for the cruise ship workers.
In a video recorded at St John's Cathedral, Portsmouth, Bishop Philip Egan said his thoughts and prayers were very much with them at this time of crisis.
"Many are in lockdown and we learnt that you too on ships are confined. I am very aware that many of you are here in England, a long way from your home and your families. As a Catholic community we are very conscious of this, and we want to express to you our love and promise of prayers for you; we pray for you all the time," he said.
The video recording includes a prayer, scripture reading and Benediction and will be broadcast to the cruise ship workers social distancing on board.
Bishop Egan also said that he was proud to have the work of Stella Maris in the Diocese whose chaplains are supporting cruise ship workers and are looking out for them.
Stella Maris GB Chief Executive Martin Foley said the organisation was delighted to be working with Carnival UK and that this current outreach was an extension of a long-term partnership already in place with the cruise line.
Through its cruise chaplaincy programme, Stella Maris has, until the recent controls imposed due to the pandemic, been deploying chaplains on board the cruise ships to minister to the needs of crew and guests.
"Despite the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions, Stella Maris chaplains in Great Britain and around the world continue to provide support to seafarers, cruise ship workers and their families during this pandemic by working in close partnership the maritime industry, trades unions and others," he said.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9SCTEW-2qY] .
Sea Sunday 2020 postponed
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.
Seafarers are key workers who deserve our support
Our chief executive Martin Foley spoke to Vatican News following Pope Francis’ video message to seafarers. Martin says that seafarers are among the heroes of the pandemic and are key workers who deserve our continued support.
“This is a particularly difficult time for seafarers who have continued to work throughout the pandemic to ensure that our society continues to function; to ensure that our supermarket shelves are stocked. So, we owe a great debt of gratitude to seafarers; they are amongst the heroes of this pandemic,” said Martin.
With “the airline industry being grounded, seafarers who have come to the end of their contracts have had no other option even to extend their contracts; to stay on board their vessels until they can disembark at port from where they can then fly home,” he said.
Stella Maris continues to reach out to seafarers, to support them in whatever way they can. Due to the social distancing restrictions, our chaplains and ship visitors are having to “find ever more innovative ways to reach seafarers”.