Apostleship of the Sea: Message for Sea Sunday 2011
(June 28, 2011) The Catholic Church recognises the silent contribution of 1.5 million seafarers from 100 different countries, 90% of them from developing countries, who are serving daily the needs of the global economy by transporting 90% of world trade. Though our life greatly benefits from their hard labour and sacrifices, seafarers are a category of workers whom we do not know much about, except when they make the headlines because of some tragedies at sea, or, more recently, because of the increase in vessel hijackings by pirates, but there are very many problems that affect their lives. Hence the celebration of the Apostleship of the Sea on the 10th of July is a special occasion to increase awareness in the Christian communities and society at large of the indispensable services that seafarers are rendering to all of us, said the message for the Sea Sunday 2011. The Message given by the President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò and the Secretary Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil. The Message explained that in recent years, the criminalization of crews for maritime accidents, the abandonment of seafarers in foreign ports without food or money, the new restrictions on shore leave, the lack of safety and security, have brought stress and strain not only to the seafarers' lives, but also to their families and relatives as well. The Church is aware of the many inhuman situations that persist in the maritime world and it stands at the side of seafarers to reiterate that their human and labour rights must be respected, the message said. As the Apostleship of the Sea is preparing to celebrate its 90th Anniversary in 2012, it continues its fight for justice in the maritime world, and is guided by the principles of the Gospel and the teaching of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
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