Apostleship of the Sea meeting in Rome

Rome, 18 January 2014: Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People has announced on Friday the Annual Meeting of the Regional Coordinators of Apostleship of the Sea. The Meeting is scheduled from 20 to 24 January in Rome. The event will begin with ‘Stella Maris Mass’ led by Antonio Maria Cardinal Vegliò, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (PCPCMIP).

The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea, to better guide the activities of the group, has divided the world into nine regions and has entrusted the pastoral care of each region to a Coordinator.

The nine regions of the world are: North America and the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Indian Ocean, Africa, Western Europe, South Asia, East Asia and South America, the Arab Gulf States and Djibouti. At the beginning of each year, the Pontifical Council meets in Rome Coordinators for an exchange of ideas and experiences in order to develop the pastoral activity for the benefit of seafarers, fishermen and their families. The Participants of the meet will receive the blessing of the Holy Father at the General Audience of Wednesday, January 22.

According to Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò, President of the Pontifical Council, the Coordinators Meeting will outline the role of each Coordinator assisting the Pontifical Council to promote an ecumenical spirit in the maritime environment [... and ] to foster and develop cooperation and mutual coordination of initiatives with the Bishops and Ordinaries of the place.

The working program will be presented by the Secretary, Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil.
Among the various interventions, Dr. Roberto Giorgi, president of the Society "Vships", a global leader in marine services, will talk about the latest trends, developments and key issues of the maritime sector in the next 5 years.

Monsignor James Martin, Consultant to the Pontifical Council, and Mr. John Green, Apostleship of the Sea of Great Britain, will address a key issue, that is, networking and sharing of experiences can promote and support the pastoral ministry and all maritime related activities.

Monsignor James Martin will also make a presentation on a tragic theme, the modern-day slavery that affects a large number of fishermen, subjecting them to forced labor, of sub-standard ships, where they risk their lives, trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation.

Deirdre Fitzpatrick, director of the Seafarers 'Right International (SRI), an independent center dedicated to advancing seafarers' rights, will speak about issues that affect their lives and the violation of their rights.
Source: VR Sedoc