Sea Sunday takes place on July 9th, a day to acknowledge the dedication of seafarers and pray for them and their families - Photo:canva.com
Sea Sunday takes place on July 9th, a day to acknowledge the dedication of seafarers and pray for them and their families.
Stella Maris, previously known as The Apostleship of the Sea, is the Catholic Church’s missionary outreach to seafarers that offers a community of hospitality and care to seafarers. The Apostleship of the Sea was founded in Glasgow in 1920 and has since spread to almost every country with a sea border. Stella Maris Seafarers Centres rely on devoted staff, volunteers, Chaplains and ship visitors to continue the valuable missionary work.
I first came into contact with Stella Maris twenty-seven years ago. Due to other Ministry commitments I have not always been available, but over the past years I have been able to join the team of very generous volunteers who assist the seafarers visiting Melbourne. Every time I visit the Centre, it is an adventure and certainly a new and edifying experience. To top this off, I was recently appointed by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, as Chaplain to the Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre and this literally means Chaplain to the Port of Melbourne.
Thousands of seafarers arrive in the Port of Melbourne each year, and seafarers avail themselves of the services provided by Stella Maris when they come ashore. Being at sea over such long periods, time on dry land is a welcome break and apart from attending to personal needs during this time, Stella Maris provides a home away from home. In comfortable surrounds, they can "chill out" if need be.
Recently, Stella Maris provided provisional accommodation for a seafarer who needed to recuperate following surgery, to ensure he is fit and well enough to re-join his ship. With the assistance of the Shipping Agent, Stella Maris also supported the entire crew of a big car carrier to find accommodation following a fire. The Fire Department issued a “watch and act,” and after two months having been deemed safe, some crew were allowed on board to help tow the ship back to Singapore.
Whilst providing services, the focus of Stella Maris is on the seafarer. Understanding the loneliness, anxiety, stress and many other pressures in their lives and occupations is at the heart of our Ministry and Mission. Sometimes work conditions, wages and the like might not be to the required standards, so action is always taken to correct anything that is not right and just.
On the other side of the coin, the advantages and rewards of being in contact with these men and women of the sea, is hard to describe. In this past week I was fortunate enough to meet a Filipino man who just happened to be from a Columban Parish in Manila. Whilst the Covid-19 crisis has caused a re-think of the ways we go about our Ministry, mixed in with this ongoing reality is the fact that for many seafarers, being able to access a Chapel for prayer and the Celebration of Mass (even on board), is a bonus and a very welcome way to receive spiritual and mental support. Seafarers represent many nationalities and faiths, but all are always welcome. An interesting fact is that in the past three months 1,592 Seafarers have graced our Centre. Is it any wonder that the Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest Container and General Cargo Port? We give thanks to our God.
Columban Fr Tony Cox, Chaplain to the Stella Maris Seafarers Centre, Melbourne
