National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea Is Set For May 22

WASHINGTON—TheNational Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea willbe celebrated May 22. The day is observed in conjunction with National MaritimeDay in the United States, which has been celebrated since 1933 to recognizemerchant mariners and others in the maritime industry.

Bishop J. Kevin Boland, retired bishopof Savannah, Georgia and Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) promoter, encouragesdioceses to mark the national day by remembering the men and women of the seain homilies and by including special petitions during Mass. For Masses celebratedon May 22, the text for the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of theSea, is encouraged.

"Mariners serve the needs of humankind in quiet and unobtrusive ways. These hardworking men and women contributeto global economic vitality. The nature of the industry requires their absencefrom home and family for many months without a break. Their labor and sacrificemake possible our access to the goods of the world," Bishop Boland said.

Bishop Boland will celebrate a Massin observance of Maritime Day on Saturday, May 18, at 12:10 p.m., in the CryptChurch at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception inWashington. The Mass is sponsored by the AOS national office and the Secretariatof Cultural Diversity in the Church of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB).

Ninety percent of the world's goodsare transported by sea and the waterways. There are approximately 1.2 millionseafarers worldwide in 10,000 commercial ships and maritime vessels.

AOS is a worldwide Catholic maritimeministry that offers spiritual and practical assistance to seafarers,fishermen, their families and all those who work and travel by sea and thewaterways. In the United States, AOS chaplains, associates and volunteers carryon this ministry in maritime ports in 50 dioceses.

The USCCB established the NationalDay of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea in 2005 toencourage Catholics to support and pray for merchant mariners, seafarers,fishermen, port personnel and others in the maritime industry.

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Keywords: National Day of Prayer, mariners,people of the sea, seafarers, fishermen, maritime industry, maritime ports,maritime ministry, merchant marine, Bishop J. Kevin Boland, USCCB Secretariat ofCultural Diversity in the Church, Apostleship of the Sea, AOS, PontificalCouncil for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

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