Apostleship of the Sea
Stella Maris Mass 2018
Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) held a Mass to commemorate the Feast of Stella Maris, Our Lady Star of the Sea in St. Bede’s Church, South Shields on September 19.
The main celebrant was Bishop Séamus Cunningham. Mass was well–attended by AoS Senior Regional Port Chaplain (Northeast England and Humber) Anne McLaren, AoS Tyne Port Chaplain Paul Atkinson, AoS ship visitors, supporters, head office staff and local parishioners.
AoS North Tees ship visitor Mary Ward was commissioned during Mass. As a ship visitor Mary goes on board ships to provide a warm welcome, a listening ear and practical support to seafarers arriving at ports in the Diocese.
Bishop Séamus reminded all present about the vital ministry AoS provides seafarers, of reaching out to those on the margins.
A huge thank you to Fr. Michael Weymes from St. Bede’s for the warm welcome and the other clergy at Mass Fr. John Gibbons, Fr. Thaddeus Jose and Monsignor Ronnie Brown, former AoS trustee.
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About Apostleship of the Sea:
The Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), is a registered charity and agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England & Wales and Scotland. It is wholly reliant on voluntary donations and legacies to continue its work.
90% of world trade is transported by ship, and more than 100,000 ships visit British ports each year. However the life of a modern seafarer can be dangerous and lonely. They may spend up to a year at a time away from home, separated from their family and loved ones, often working in harsh conditions.
AoS chaplains and ship visitors welcome seafarers to our shores - regardless of their colour, race or creed and provide them with pastoral and practical assistance. They recognise them as brothers with an intrinsic human dignity which can be overlooked in the modern globalised maritime industry.
For more information contact AoS on 0207 901 1931 or email: info@apostleshipofthesea.org.uk.
www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk
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