杏MAP导航

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

杏MAP导航 Francis has sent a message to the participants in the 25th World Congress of the Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) taking place in Glasgow, Scotland from 2 鈥� 5 October.

In his address, the Holy Father noted that this first, in-person gathering since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic would hopefully permit them to fully celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Apostleship of the Sea (4 October 1920 in Glasgow), and the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II鈥檚 Motu Proprio 'Stella Maris' in which the norms of the apostolate were updated to better serve the needs of today鈥檚 maritime community.

鈥淥n this joyous occasion,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥淚 join you, and all associated with Stella Maris, in giving thanks to Almighty God for the witness of faith and countless acts of kindness and charity shown by so many chaplains and volunteers over the past century to those who toil on our seas and waterways for the benefit of us all.鈥�

Growth from humble beginnings

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled 杏MAP导航 Pius XI鈥檚 prayerful good wishes for the Apostleship in 1922, and his desire that it would reap 鈥渁 rich harvest of good fruit.鈥�

鈥淲e can all be thankful that such fruit has been abundant,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

He added that from 鈥渟mall and humble beginnings,鈥� Stella Maris has grown into a widespread organization providing 鈥渟piritual, psychological and material assistance, on ships and ashore, for myriads of seafarers and maritime personnel of diverse nationalities and religious traditions.鈥�

Such a global presence reflects the particular response to the Lord鈥檚 command to 鈥済o out into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation鈥� noted the 杏MAP导航, recalling that much of Jesus鈥� ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee and that some of His disciples were fishermen who later became fishers of men.

Know that you are not alone and are not forgotten

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to underscore the importance of water, highlighting that Creation and our common home is comprised of a vast expanse of water which is essential for life, human commerce and tourism.

Indeed, he added, around 90 percent of the world鈥檚 goods are transported by ships, which is made possible by the daily work of 1.5 million people 鈥� many of whom are removed for months at a time from the support of their families, as well as their social and religious communities.

Upholding the vital importance of the ministry of Stella Maris, the Holy Father acknowledged the impact of the pandemic on the difficulties associated with such isolation, and reiterated his message to the suffering seafarers, reminding them to 鈥渒now that you are not alone and that you are not forgotten,鈥� but are close to the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the chaplains and volunteers of Stella Maris.

He added that the Congress provides the seafarers the opportunity to draw inspiration from their rich history as they look ahead to how they can continue to be of service to those whose lives and livelihoods are connected to the seas.

Challenges of seafarers

The Holy Father further noted that many maritime workers suffer from a variety of unjust working conditions and other deprivations, aggravated not least by the effects of climate change.

In addition, damage to marine environments 鈥渄isproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters, whose very livelihoods are even threatened with extinction.鈥�

In this regard, he expressed hope that Stella Maris will not waver in 鈥渄rawing attention to the issues which deprive many within the maritime community of their God-given human dignity,鈥� and in this way, continue its noble service of putting into practice the words of Jesus: 鈥淚 was a stranger and you welcomed me.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by expressing his prayerful good wishes for the Congress and entrusting the chaplains, volunteers and all associated with Stella Maris, to the protection of Our Lady Star of the Sea.