Our Current Appeal

Sea Sunday is the one day each year when the Church remembers all those who live and work at sea. The UK relies on seafarers to bring in 95% of the goods we consume; this is a fact often taken for granted. The Apostleship of the Sea and its chaplains are there to support the seafarers who work so hard to bring us the things we want, need and use on a daily basis.

Tony McAvoy our chaplain on the North East coast explains why his and the Apostleship of the Sea’s work is so vital.

Who needs seafarers…?

We live in a world of consumerism and globalisation, where the earth is one big market place. In the western world everything we need is at our fingertips and to engage in what has become known as ‘retail therapy’ is a simple routine which for some is, apparently,  a desperate and continuous need.

It is probably not surprising, therefore, given the ongoing sight of full supermarket shelves and correspondingly vast areas of other retail outlets all fully occupied with the appropriate goods for sale, that we take the availability of almost everything totally for granted.

So who needs seafarers? What do they do for you? Why should you be interested in them or their welfare? The answer is, of course, that almost every item which appears on a supermarket shelf, or is offered for sale elsewhere, has arrived in this country by ship. Ninety five percent of what we use, consumables, manufactured goods, raw materials etc. come in by sea. Without ships and, of course, the seafarers to man them, shelves would very soon be empty and industry would grind to a halt.

I use the following simple domestic example to illustrate the role of seafarers in our  lives. Look at the bowl of fruit on your dining room table, the appearance of which we perhaps take very much for granted.  A closer and more thoughtful gaze at the contents might reveal; bananas from Columbia, apples from New Zealand, grapes from Spain, oranges from Israel and grapefruit from South Africa; fruit in fact from around the globe, all of which has been transported thousands of miles and delivered to us by sea.

Now take a closer look at the labels on individual items in your kitchen cupboard or wardrobe or at the many electrical goods which now have a place in our homes and you will see that just about every item has been manufactured or produced abroad.

So who needs seafarers?  The answer is, of course, that we all do; and as Christians we should be grateful for what they do for us and be concerned for their wellbeing. Especially in the next year which is actually ‘The Year of the Seafarer.’

 Seafarers are a marginalised workforce, generally unseen by the general public, even when in port. They work in difficult and often dangerous conditions, to support their families (often extended families) back home, and in so doing make huge sacrifices by being away for up to twelve months at a time.

The role of the Apostleship of the Sea is to ‘welcome the stranger’ i.e. the seafarer, by offering the outstretched hand and smiling face of welcome, and providing pastoral and practical help whilst he is in port. We do this by visiting the ships when they arrive, providing local information, supplying news in different languages, arranging transport and access to the all important means of communication, i.e. telephone or Internet.  For the many Catholic seafarers we also provide spiritual assistance by arranging access to Mass and the Sacraments to nourish and sustain their faith while away from family and loved ones for such long periods.  We also organise for seafarers of other faiths to have access to their own worship.    

  We offer this welcome to seafarers of all nationalities and faiths without exception, adopting the key elements of our ministry: Mission, Welfare, Hospitality and Solidarity.

The work of AoS chaplains is interesting and varied. No two days are the same; there are challenges and often the need to ‘go the extra mile’ to ensure that the best has been achieved for the seafarer during his limited time in the port. We are in a privileged position to be able to help our brothers from all parts of the world but can only do this to do this with your continued support. Thank you for your generosity in the past and in anticipation of your ongoing support in the future.

God bless seafarers and perhaps you will think of, and say a short prayer for, them the next time you head for the fruit bowl! With thanks, Tony McAvoy.

Will you help seafarers in need this Sea Sunday and in the Year of the Seafarer? Please support this appeal and give £20 or whatever you can afford. Just complete and return the form below. Or now you can also donate

online at www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk