Apostleship of the Sea

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The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) also known internationally as Stella Maris, is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain and an independent charity wholly reliant on voluntary contributions.

AOS deploys port chaplains and ship visitors to provide pastoral and practical assistance to the one million seafarers who arrive in our ports each year – regardless of nationaltiy, race or creed (if any).

Ninety percent of world trade is carried by ship, but the conditions of seafarers themselves are hidden from us. Seafarers often have to work away from their families and local communities for nine to 12 months at a time, suffering loneliness, depression, spiritual deprivation and even exploitation. AOS welcomes them as brothers and sisters and promotes a recognition of their inherent human dignity, under the patronage of Our Lady Star of the Sea (‘Stella Maris’). Many seafarers from around the world identify with our pastoral care under this title, which has traditionally been given to our seafarers’ centres.

' The Story of AOS in a Changing Industry'

AOS was founded in Glasgow in 1922 and, following a blessing from Pope Pius XI, spread rapidly around the world. It started as a lay-led ship-visiting ministry but became part of the mainstream pastoral care of the Church following an Apostolic Letter in 1958.

At this time Britain had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, employing hundreds of thousands of British seafarers. AOS ran large seafarers’ hostels in all the major port towns where seafarers could stay while their ships were in port, often for weeks at a time. Hundreds of volunteers from the local parishes were involved in providing hospitality and entertainment for seafarers in these hostels, which were always full.

Then globalisation and the thirst for greater profit margins, combined with technological advances, changed the face of international shipping forever. Ships got larger, ports moved down river, and turnaround times for ships in port were reduced dramatically. Crews also became smaller, and were increasingly recruited in developing world countries where wages were lower. Owners registered their ships under so-called flags of convenience to avoid tax and more stringent regulatory controls.

However, since 1958, AOS had been fragmented, organised along diocesan lines, and was unable to cope with the seismic changes in the nature of the shipping industry. Recognising this situation, in 2001 the trustees on the Episcopal Commission of AOS developed a strategic ‘Way Ahead’ plan, outlining a vision for a re-nationalised and re-focused AOS which would address the real needs of seafarers by providing an integrated maritime ministry in British ports. This new way ahead was endorsed by the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales in November 2001, and later by the Scottish Bishops’ Conference as well. In June 2005, AOS in Scotland came together with its counterpart in England & Wales to form once society, and Chaplaincy teams have now been appointed to almost all major port areas throughout Great Britain.

The New Vision!

Today’s seafarer is no longer in port for a few nights, but only for a few hours. In these changed circumstances, they no longer need the reactive welcome of a hostel, but the pro-active outreach of a ship visit, backed up by a modern drop-in centre inside the docks - not full of beds, but full of email terminals and telephones to facilitate contact with loved ones back home whom they may not have seen for nine or even 12 months.

The core of AOS work is, therefore, now focused on a three-stranded pastoral ministry to international seafarers. These strands are:

• Pro-active ship-visiting by specially trained and qualified chaplains • Joint ministry from ecumenical drop-in seafarers’ centres inside ports • Seagoing chaplaincy by specially trained and qualified chaplains

These strands intertwine personal commitment, professional training and effective support by AOS Chaplains, both ordained men and lay people. Support chaplains, who are parish priests of local parishes, provide access to the sacraments in the absence of an ordained chaplain. Ordained chaplains are also appointed to cruise liners.

“My thoughts go out to all who work at sea, and I pray that they may be able to live with dignity and security.” - Pope John Paul II, Message for World Maritime Day 2004

Key Principles of AOS

Mission: We reach out to seafarers in the name of Christ, providing counsel and support. Catholic seafarers are given the opportunity to receive the sacraments.

Solidarity: We stand alongside seafarers, recognising them as our brothers and sisters in need. We campaign for their rights to be upheld, and their intrinsic human dignity to be acknowledged. Welfare: Recognising that seafarers are men and women with human needs, we stand alongside them when they are abandoned, exploited, lonely and deprived.

Hospitality: We welcome seafarers to our shores and to warm and friendly ecumenical centres where they can contact loved ones back home, relax, pray and be sure of an attentive ear.