The annual delivery and collection of Christmas presents for seafarers was in full swing in December in the North East ports and especially in the port of Tees and Hartlepool. St Augustine’s Primary School was 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 provided 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.

Tony McAvoy
Apostleship of the Sea