By Caroline Smith
Imagine having an intense job that takes you away from your family for almost a year, as you travel around the world on a ship, and can only make contact with them when you reach port.
These are the circumstances of seafarers who arrive in Fremantle daily with their ships, often looking for somewhere to relax, have a cup of tea, and email or Skype people back home.
They find this support in the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) Seafarers Centre which is located near the port, and staffed by Permanent Deacon Patrick Moore and an enthusiastic group of volunteers who provide conversation and pastoral services to those who drop in.
Having someone to talk to was very important to seafarers, according to Deacon Patrick.
“With most of the ships that come here, the men are reasonably well treated, but they still suffer from loneliness, they’re often on very long contracts – say eight to 10 months,” he said.
“That’s a long time and, if you’re a young man with a family, it’s a long time to be away.”
He said that, while workers could talk to other crew members on board, it was sometimes important that they had other sources of support.
“It could be a very pleasant experience, but it might not be,” he said.
Communicating with families back home is essential – and seafarers could do that at the Stella Maris Seafarers Centre, either on their own smartphones, or with the computers provided on-site.
“I think that’s our first responsibility, to enable and encourage them to contact their families, and talk,” Deacon Patrick said.
“You’ll sometimes hear children’s voices and wonder where it’s coming from, and it’s from Skype.
“Sometimes they get excited when they see their new baby, and they want to show you and share it with you – that’s really nice.”
They could also change currency, buy snacks or soft drinks, and use the Centre as a base to come back to before returning to their ship.
With the Stella Maris Centre being visible from the port itself, seafarers often just walk down themselves, but staff are also happy to pick them up in the Centre bus when needed, Deacon Patrick said.
“The men will sit around, talk, and then, when they’re ready, we take them back to the ship,” he said.
“Roughly speaking, around 2,000 ships come to the port each year, each with about 20 crew, and about 600 of these visit the Stella Maris Centre each month.”
Deacon Patrick said he was pleased to be part of the upcoming celebration of Seafarers’ Sunday on 10 July – an annual event acknowledging the work done by seafarers and those who support them.
“Seafarers’ Sunday is celebrated around the world by all the seafarer welfare organisations, not just by Stella Maris,” he said.
“We’re part of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), which has its headquarters in Rome. There are Stella Maris centres all around Australia and, in Western Australia, we have centres in Fremantle and Albany.
“Sea Sunday is also celebrated in Fremantle by the Mission to Seafarers, which is run by the Anglicans.”
ACBC calls parishes to acknowledge the vital role of Seafarers in the Year of Mercy
On Sea Sunday, 10 July, Catholic parishes across Australia will acknowledge the vital role of over 130,000 seafarers who transit through Australia’s 25 ports while working at sea and the associated, dedicated port chaplains and volunteers. The parish support will be generated through a collection based on the annual, national Sea Sunday appeal.
Last year, approximately 20,000 vessels visited Australia. Many of these received support from 15 Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) Port Chaplains and over 164 AOS volunteers. In the past 12 months, support was provided to 276 seafarers who were hospitalised in Australia as a result of a medical emergency or an injury from a vessel at sea. These seafarers are isolated when admitted to hospital and remote from family. The AOS reconnects these sick or injured seafarers with family and continues to support them until discharged, ensuring personal needs are met where possible.
The AOS is the pontifical body with specific pastoral care responsibility for seafarers – people who work at sea. Seafarers are those on board merchant ships or fishing vessels, and all who, for whatever reason, have undertaken a voyage by ship.
As a Catholic ministry, seafarers can attend various AOS centres in seaports around Australia and are provided with a range of pastoral care services appropriate to their needs from practical support to providing sacramental ministry. The work of the laity as AOS volunteers in the ports is an important aspect of this ministry.
Pope Francis, in 2014, called on those who work for the well-being of seafarers and the families to “be the voice of those workers who live far from their loved ones and face dangerous and difficult situations”.
Sea Sunday came to prominence when the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference approved a national annual appeal to support the ministry back in the 1970s. On Sunday, 10 July, all dioceses, even those inland that do not have a commercial seaport, are encouraged to support this collection because all of Australia benefits from the labours of seafarers through the use and enjoyment of goods imported as a result of their labours. Parishes are also asked to keep seafarers and their families in their prayers.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Promoter for the AOS, Bishop Bosco Puthur, said, “It is incumbent on the Catholic community in Australia, united as the Body of Christ, to accept responsibility for the pastoral care of the Apostleship of the Sea workers. I call on every parish to share in the financial costs of pastorally supporting the seafarers and volunteers by contributing in some way to the national collection on Sunday, 10 July”.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to all who have donated and supported the national Sea Sunday appeal in the past. Without this support, the care and provision of pastoral services to seafarers would not be possible.”
Bishop Puthur also acknowledged the service of the AOS volunteers and he especially thanked Peter Owens, outgoing National Director of the AOS.
“Peter has supported ports and port chaplains and has maintained contact with many related organisations. Peter has also raised awareness of the pastoral needs of seafarers who visit Australia. A new National Director will be appointed following careful consideration of the ongoing and changing needs of this ministry.”
Background information
- With almost 90 per cent of trade being transported by sea, the maritime industry plays a vital role in the world economy.
- Amongst other services, the AOS looks after seafarers who are abandoned in port and those who are sick or injured through accidents.
- AOS volunteers give witness to their faith in working with this charitable ministry.
- The Apostleship of the Sea began under the name of the Apostolate of Prayer, formed originally in Glasgow, Scotland on 31 July 1891.
- The Australian Chapter commenced in 1902 with Fr Patrick May of St Francis Church, Melbourne, known as St Augustine’s Conference for Seafarers, made up of 12 young men.
- In 1922, Pope Pius XI approved the first constitution of the movement known as the Apostleship of the Sea.
- Some of the modern challenges facing seafarers and this industry include piracy, and its impact on seafarers and their families; Catholic formation for AOS volunteers and Catholic port Chaplains; workplace accidents; the changing face of the international shipping industry; smaller crews due to mechanisation and other developments; and shortening turnaround times for container ships.
- Workers are being increasingly recruited from developing countries where wages are low.