Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has paid tribute to the work of Catholic seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea, as members of the charity met the Holy Father in Rome this week.

At his Wednesday general audience, the Pope called on those who work for the wellbeing of seafarers and their families to ‘be the voice of those workers who live far from their loved ones and face dangerous and difficult situations.’

At the end of his audience, the Holy Father greeted Sr Mary Leahy (below), regional coordinator for Oceania and Fr Celestin Ikomba (above), regional coordinator for West Africa.

Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) regional coordinators are meeting in Rome this week, a meeting organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which coordinates the activities of the AoS worldwide.

Martin Foley, AoS Great Britain national director, told Vatican Radio that this week’s talks have developed from AoS’ World Congress in November 2012, at which around 400 delegates, including port chaplains, national directors and volunteers, gathered to reflect on their ministry to seafarers.

Mr Foley said that this week’s meeting will be the first time that the regional directors elected at that 2012 congress have come together to reflect on the challenges to their ministry.

“Some of the challenges we face include how to renew and adapt our ministry to seafarers, the people we serve,” he said. “We need to constantly find ways to deepen our engagement with seafarers and to reassure seafarers of our presence and support, regardless of their faith.”

The Apostleship of the Sea charity was founded in Glasgow in 1922. An annual Mass is celebrated at the city’s St Aloysius’ Church, Garnethill, where the charity began,to mark this foundation and to pray for the continued work of the charity in caring for seafarers and their families.