Apostleship of the Sea congress to focus on New Evangelization

November 09, 2012 - The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples will be holding the 23rd Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea in the Vatican from Nov. 19 to 23. Some 410 participants from 71 countries are expected to take part in the congress on the theme, "New Evangelisation in the Maritime World". The theme has been adapted from the those of the October Synod of Bishops in Rome and the Year of Faith, Oct. 11 to Nov. 24 2013, which Pope Benedict XVI has called for the entire Church. The Apostleship of the Sea, AOS, is the Catholic Church’s service to the world’s seafarers and fishers, mostly through the Stella Maris centres at ports. Cardinal Antonio Mario Veglio, president of the Council said that during the congress the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea will seek to find adequate pastoral responses to the problems faced by seafarers. He lamented that technological advances in the maritime industry has not always brought adequate improvements in the lives of seafarers, especially those who spend long periods away from their families. At times the ships are abandoned and they are stranded without food or resources and subject to abuse and exploitation. The prelate also touched upon the scourge of piracy, which, he said, causes long-term psychological trauma not only to seafarers but also to their families. The Apostleship of the Sea is also lobbying with the international community to adopt the Maritime Labour Convention (2006), a charter of seafarers’ rights.