By Fr. Tony Cox, Columban Australia Director of Stella Maris
Iran attacked 2 commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The 40 Filipino Seafarers are safe!
2,100 Filipino Seafarers aboard 85 vessels have safely left the Persian Gulf. (June29th)
3,800 are still working on ships in the region.
Over 11,000 Seafarers are still stranded across roughly 500 ships.
Food, clean drinking water and personal health are some of the matters of concern and shame.
AND THIS ONLY APPLIES TO ONE REGION OF OUR WORLD!
The facts listed above are reasons why Sea Sunday is a feature of the Church’s special attention during the month of July. As most people are not aware of the harsh conditions and difficulties which all seafarers endure, we are asked to become conscious of their plight.
Being away from family and friends for extended time at sea is hard enough but when this is mixed with very dangerous and harsh weather conditions, their jobs and responsibilities, even more must we become grateful of what they do for us all the world over. How would you like to be “a prisoner on your ship for 2 years without the opportunity or allowance of setting foot on dry shore. This is exactly what seafarers endured during the worldwide CoVid epidemic. In the course of a “Normal Day” in some situations, sustainable food, clean water, appropriate wages and seafarer morale do not meet acceptable levels. This is why the various Agencies such as AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) and the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and various other Groups are always working to improve the material conditions seafarers work in, they advocate for their dignity and proper rights and above all, champion international relations and policies in safeguarding the human rights of all no matter what race, nationality or creed. For Stella Maris, the official Maritime Agency of the Catholic Church, as we try to bring about the Kingdom of God in a more real way, these Agencies “become our teeth”. Our pastoral approach is ‘Faith in Action’. Yes, like it or not, but our world is changing each day. Unfortunately, in this era of the “I” phone many forget that human relationships and the resulting associated responsibility will always be vital for our continued growth and appreciation of life and all that surrounds. May we always be grateful.
