Apostleship of Sea: beacon of light for seafarers, families

The Church’s ministry to seafarers and their families, through its Apostleship of the Sea and its chaplains and volonteers in ports around the globe, offers “a beacon of light” for those who have sailed for weeks without spiritual care or contact with the outside world. That’s the message of encouragement that the President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò imparted to participants at the Apostleship of the Sea Congress that opened in the Vatican’s Synod hall Monday.

The some 400 delegates have come from seventy countries to study the challenges to their ministry and how best to implement Pope Benedict’s call to the New Evangelization in the Church’s pastoral work.

John Green, Director of Development for the Apostleship of the Sea Great Britain says the Church’s ministry to seafarers and their families means “working not only to support their work/welfare, but also to support their faith because for many of these people (ed. who spend weeks or even months at sea), it is very very difficult for them to access pastoral care, to be supported in their life of faith.”

Listen to Tracey McClure’s brief interview with John Green: