(October 19, 2010) A 3-day conference began in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday to mark
90 years of the Apostleship of the Sea, AoS, the Catholic Church’s initiative that
provides pastoral as well as material support to all seafarers. “Looking at the past,
moving into the future,” is the theme of the 18th-20th meeting, being attended by
all European Regional AoS coordinators. The AoS support centres are popularly known
as Stella Maris, the Latin for ‘Star of the Sea,’ a title attributed to the Virgin
Mother. AoS was officially created when on Oct. 4, 1920, a small group of lay people
including Peter Anson, Arthur Gannon and Jesuit Bro. Daniel Shields gathered in Glasgow
and decided to unify the efforts amongst many coastal towns to help and support seafarers,
calling it the Apostleship of the Sea. In 1922, Pope Pius XII granted approval to
AoS which now operates under the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care
of Migrants and Itinerant People. Council president, Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò
has sent a message to the Glasgow conference expressing gratitude to God for 90 years
of service by the Aos. “As AOS we are called to fulfil our mission and to respond
to the old needs of the seafarers in new ways,” the archbishop wrote. He noted that
the number of trained priests and volunteers was declining while the apostolate needs
to open many more small ‘drop in’ centres to cater to the needs of seafarers who face
newer challenges. 2010 has also been declared the “Year of Seafarer’ by the International
Maritime Organization, IMO.