When seafarers and fishers arrive in a port, they are strangers in a foreign land, they don’t know the locals and often don’t know who to turn to when they need help.
Port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors from Stella Maris (the Catholic Church’s maritime agency and formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea) are there for them. They are concerned for the welfare of seafarers and fishers.
This year’s Gospel for Sea Sunday, which falls on July 13, reminds us about the love and care the Good Samaritan showed to the stranger he found upon the road. For seafarers and fishers, Stella Maris is that Good Samaritan… 

Acts of kindness

Steve Willows, Stella Maris regional port chaplain to Northumberland, North and South Tyneside, was contacted by the captain of a vessel in Sunderland.
One of their cooks, Carlo (name changed to protect his identity) had fallen seriously ill. He had been meant to fly home to the Philippines but instead was admitted to hospital. The ship had to leave, and Carlo faced being left completely alone in a foreign country.
During Carlo’s three weeks in hospital, he was visited by Steve and Stella Maris volunteer ship visitor Sister Scholastica.
“On the days I would visit Carlo, he would update me on any procedures or results he had received that day,” said Steve.
“His hearing had drastically worsened due to the infection he had. During early conversations, I would reply via typing answers on my phone and show him as he struggled to hear my voice.
“Over time, as his hearing slowly improved, the need to type out my side of our conversations lessened until we were able to chat normally, which was a relief to Carlo.”
Steve brought clean clothes, food and a mobile phone SIM card so Carlo could contact his family back home.
“When a seafarer like Carlo is in hospital in a country where he doesn’t know anyone, we will probably be the only ones to visit him with consistency,” he said.
“Then a seafarer will know who to contact if there is anything they need bringing in or want someone to talk to. We can be with them for the high and lows.”
After Carlo returned to the Philippines for treatment for a cancer that had been discovered, Steve kept in touch with him, checking on how his treatments were going and keeping him and his family in his prayers.
These simple acts of kindness by Stella Maris port chaplains and ship visitors mean so much to seafarers who are far from home and feeling isolated.
This Sea Sunday, let us pray for seafarers, fishers and the work of Stella Maris. Readers wishing to donate toward the work of Stella Maris can visit stellamaris.org.uk/donate/.

Greg Watts