USCCB - (MRS) - Apostleship of the Sea

MRS > Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees > Apostleship of the Sea

Challenges to Mission
The Chaplain: Servant at Sea
The Wider Circle
AOS History & Organization
Ecumenical Relations & Training
What Can You Do?

For More Information
About the Logo
Bishop Promoter
National Director
Apostleship of the Sea in the United States
Apostleship of the Sea International Website

The Maritime Mission
The mission of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) remains today as clear as a sailing ship’s mast silhouetted against the rising sun: to reach out to seafarers, fishers, their families, and all who work or travel on the high seas. Seafarers are often away from their home parishes, and some seafarers have no parish setting to help them maintain lasting ties with their faith and families. A network of AOS port offices and Catholic chaplains establishes a parish that accommodates a seafarer’s unique lifestyle and needs.

Around the world, the AOS assists seafarers to meet their basic needs: a safe work environment, a just contract, a safe haven while in port, spiritual renewal, communication with loved ones back home, a few hours of recreation, and a genuine welcome.

Challenges to Mission
The fulfillment of a seafarer’s needs is challenged today by technological advances in the maritime industry, namely containerization, specialty ships such as car carriers, immense crude oil tankers, and cruise ships with their extremely large multi-national crews. Seafarers working aboard today’s ships no longer count their time in port in days but in hours.

The Chaplain: Servant at Sea
In more than 65 ports throughout the United States and in most major ports throughout the world, the diocese assigns a chaplain (a priest, deacon, religious, or lay person) to serve the seafarers in their milieu—aboard ship and on shore. The ships in the harbor, the crowded wharves, the hospitals, the seafarers’ home and clubs all make up the port chaplain’s “parish.”

AOS chaplains are trained and experienced in the specific problems of the maritime world. They represent the bishop and the pope, and they serve as seafarers’ pastors and friends. Skilled in counseling and resourceful in bringing the means of grace to those of the sea, chaplains are servants at sea. As ambassadors of Christ to seafarers, chaplains listen to their problems and earn their confidence.

The Wider Circle
No matter how dedicated, the AOS chaplain needs assistance with the ministry that includes visiting ships and distributing reading materials, driving vans to visit the seafarers and transport them to shipping facilities and the seafarers’ centers, operating Stella Maris Centers, visiting hospitalized seafarers, and creating a wholesome environment for recreation and friendly company. AOS enlists and encourages the diaconate and laity to take an active role in its mission through recruitment, instruction, and commission of men and women in port dioceses.

Unique to the United States is a Catholic organization, the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America (AOSUSA), conceived by Bishop Rene H. Gracida, a former AOS episcopal promoter. Within this framework, the chaplains, pastoral associates, mariners, and concerned laity can exchange ideas.

Guided by elected officials, this organization provides a forum for the membership to suggest policies, programs, and pertinent data for achieving the aims of the Apostleship of the Sea.

AOS History and Organization
In 1920, Catholic port ministry was conceived and developed in Glasgow, Scotland, by Rev. Donald Macintosh, Arthur Gannon, and Peter Anson, who were concerned about the lack of witness the Church was showing aboard ship. Two years later they approached Pope Pius XI, who bestowed his blessings on the ministry and encouraged the Apostleship of the Sea to extend its mission to the oceans and shores of all the hemispheres.

In every major country, a bishop serves as the AOS episcopal promoter, overseeing the work of the national director. It is the director’s responsibility to coordinate the individual chaplain’s efforts and to assist them in developing their ministries. Additionally, the national director’s office serves as a communication center which produces a newsletter, (Catholic Maritime News in the United States), establishes and maintains rapport with organizations protecting the seafarers’ interests, and appeals to the diocese for port chaplains.

Each country hosts an annual conference. Tying all these national conferences together is the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Because the Apostleship of the Sea’s “parishioners” move around the world, it is necessary that their pastors be in touch with one another. The World Congress held every five years, mandated by the Apostolatus Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) office, ensures this connection between countries and disseminates the pontifical council’s policies.

Ecumenical Relations and Training
Working alongside the AOS worldwide are the men and women of many other major denominations. They respond with much talent, time, and devotion not only for seafarers but also for chaplains and pastoral associates. Evidence of this is the ecumenical school of training in the Port of Houston. Established more than fifteen years ago, the school program examines most facets of the chaplain’s work. All AOS chaplains are urged to pursue and further their education.

These Christian denominations have in common a love of seafarers and a desire to share the word of God. Under the title of the North American Maritime Ministry Conference, the Churches meet annually to consider ways to better the lifestyle of sailors.

This larger forum advocates a program of shared prayer, exchange of ideas, and a spirit of cooperation. Special interdenominational committees are formed to update the legislative and judicial bodies about seafarers’ rights that have been neglected or violated.