THE
P RTAL
November 2016
The Apostleship of the Sea deserves support from
Catholics and uses every penny received wisely. Some
volunteers knit woolly hats which are much appreciated
by Filipinos and Indians when they are experiencing
our northern climates in winter. Scandinavia in winter
is very different from what they are used to at home.
Every year Apostleship of the Sea chaplains and
volunteers visit about 10,000 ships and assist around
200,000 seafarers in many ways. Imagine - if a family
member has died at home in the Philippines or India
there is no possibility of attending the funeral of
someone as close as a mother or father, or even a wife
or child. Access to a priest who can celebrate Mass for
the deceased is a great support and comfort in these
circumstances. Help with establishing contact with
home is one of the most useful aids the Apostleship
of the Sea can give. Phone and SIM cards are often
requested and supplied.
Sometimes ships are arrested and impounded
because the owners have run into financial difficulties.
A ship was recently detained in our waters for
13 months. The crew got no pay, of course, and
were almost literally stranded on our shores. The
Apostleship of the Sea provided a lifeline for seafarers
in this desperate situation, combining practical help
with acts of human warmth and kindness. The port
chaplain at Southampton, a Catholic deacon, always
describes his work as ‘the best job in the world’.
Apostleship of the Sea chaplains celebrate Mass and
the other sacraments for seafarers and volunteers pray
with them. Seafarers often cannot attend Mass for
months on end. ‘When did you last have Mass on board?’
I asked some Filippinos on a Christmas cruise. ‘When
you were last on board before Easter’ came the reply.
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Sea Sunday focuses annually on the valuable ministry
of the Apostleship of the Sea and asks supporters to be
generous to its work as often as they can.
The need is great. The work is important and
sometimes a matter of life and death. Hospitality to
strangers, travellers and visitors was a sacred duty in
the ancient world generally. Jesus raised this duty to
a higher level still when he said that service to the
stranger was service to him.
But back to the cruise ships and to Sir Francis
Drake. Most cruises are ‘holidays of a lifetime’ for the
passengers, who return again and again, year after
year. Many come to agree wholeheartedly with Sir
Francis Drake who said memorably: ‘It isn’t that life
ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.’ I
wonder if he was in the Ship Inn in St Martin’s Lane in
Exeter at the time?
Forms of words for Making a Bequest
in favour of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham in your Will
I GIVE to the Ordinariate of Our Lady
of Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London
W1F 9JR, the sum of ______ pounds (£
) and
I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other
proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient
discharge to my Executor.
or
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the
Ordinariate
of
Our
Lady
of
Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London W1F
9JR, and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer
or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and
sufficient discharge to my Executor.