Docked at St Mary’s and lending a hand

02 May 2012

By Robert Hiini

US Sailors in a sign of goodwill help with the maintenance of St Mary’s Cathedral

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Mgr Michael Keating welcomed US military chaplain Father Keith J Schuley and the sailors of the USS Carl Vinson at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday morning.

“We are blessed in a special way and delighted to meet you all,” Cathedral Dean Mgr Keating told the 14 sailors as he gave them a tour of St Mary’s. Archbishop Costelloe added his warmest greetings.

“I have never been to America and hope to get there one day, but this is a very special thing for me and I am thrilled to be able to welcome you all.”

The sailors of the USS Carl Vinson began their journey in November and reached Australian waters last Tuesday, their exact location being kept a secret for security.

“This is a routine deployment,” Fr Schuley, the Catholic military chaplain onboard said.

“It is an opportunity for American sailors to work alongside Australian sailors and it is to show goodwill from America.”

Fr Schuley presented Archbishop Costelloe and Mgr Keating with a USS Carl Vinson baseball cap and also gifted the Archbishop with a ‘skateboard’ – a flat wooden likeness of their ship’s deck – and a coin from Admiral Shannon who could not be present.

The plaque on the skateboard read: “from the crew of the USS Carl Vinson to congratulate Archbishop Timothy Costelloe on your installation as Archbishop of Perth, presented on 27th April 2012.”

After admiring the Cathedral, the sailors were ready for some hard work.

They donned protective white overalls to assist Cathedral parishioners and staff in cleaning and painting the Cathedral fence and tidying the garden.

“We are here to help out and clean up,” US sailor Joanie Daniels said. “It’s a beautiful day and I can’t wait to get started.”

Sailor Sriphaichitr Sunslip said, “This is my first time to Perth and the people are really nice and welcoming, it’s so good that I actually want to move here.”