The annual delivery and collection of Christmas presents for seafarers is now in full swing in the north east ports and especially in the port of Tees and Hartlepool.

St Augustine’s Primary School were the first to donate a number of presents, followed quickly by St Clare’s parish, Brookfield, Middlesbrough. St Francis and the Linthorpe Women’s Institute continued their annual generosity with a number of boxes as did St William’s in Dormanstown.

Once again St Joan of Arc parish at Catterick Garrison also sent a splendid selection of presents, and St Joseph’s, Middlesbrough also provide a wonderful selection courtesy of Barclaycard.

We also got the call from St Gabriel’s parish, Ormesby, Middlesbrough to collect a large number of boxes in keeping with their generosity of previous years, However on this occasion, it coincided with the Bishop of Middlesbrough visiting the parish, so, at the 11.00 am Mass on Sunday 11th December, Bishop Terence Drainey
blessed the gifts and said prayers for seafarers and for the work of the Apostleship of the Sea.

Various individuals have also generously donated presents; for these and all mentioned above we are extremely grateful.