THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA

2nd Floor, United Seamen's Service Bldg.
Bonifacio Drive cor. 8th St., Port Area
P.O. Box 2927, Manila
Telefax: 527-2638
Chaplain: Fr. Savino Bernardi, CS

Assistance to more than 1,200,000 seafarers in the world is the reason why there is such an established Catholic Organization known as the  Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) or Apostolatus Maris in the Church.  To be sure, the commitment and services to seafarers in the world is not exclusive domain of AOS.  There are today at least another 24 Christian Organization in the world attending to this field of apostolate, some with more than 100 years of ministry, others which sprung up in a more recent time.  All, including AOS, have formed an organization since 1974, called: International Christian Maritime Association  (ICMA).  The AOS is the largest of all, with about 90 Stella Maris Centers for seafarers in the world and more than 300 offices or appointed chaplain in other ports.

In this Apostolate, AOS interacts with all National and International  Organizations, private Agencies and maritime Institutions in a constant work of advocacy and protection on behalf of seafarers.  Its concerns are all seafarers, anywhere in the world.  It is estimated that at the present there are 1,200,000 seafarers roaming the seas and oceans of the world on commercial transportation vessels and passenger liners.  Many more are the fisher folks employed in the international deep-sea fishing industry.  They are from many different countries, with different language, faith, culture and customs.  AOS is devoted to each and all of them regardless of the differences.  They are all our “brothers in Christ,” friends “we have not yet met”.

This apostolate has a particular significance in the Philippines since at present this country is the major supplier of seamen on board ocean going vessels: 1998 registered the employment of 193,000; in 1999 the figure would reach beyond the 200,000.

The Holy Father devoted a special attention to this apostolate through the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio “Stella Maris” signed on January 31^st , 1997.  The Apostolic Letters aims at updating Church norms regarding pastoral ministry in the maritime world.  The last time that such norms were dealt with was September 1977.  Since then, profound changes have occurred in the maritime world.

Seamen deserve the particular attention of this apostolate account of their difficult employment at sea.  BY nature of their work, they are the “invisible” members of the community and often of their families.  They are vulnerable people because they often have to stand alone to face problems related to relationships at home or at work; to faith and cultural challenges; to difficult and dangerous occupational conditions on board.  The most challenging factor in the life of seamen of seamen is to face loneliness and months of separation from their loved ones.  Communication with their families is what they need most, but at the same time is also the major source of their worries when they receive discomforting news from home or they themselves wish not to reveal unhappy circumstances of their life on board for fear this would cause unnecessary  anxieties to their families.  Its hard and lonely life that only the strong in heart , in spirit and in character can endure it.

AOS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Apostleship of the Sea in the Philippines was introduced first in the Archdiocese of Manila in 1958 by His Eminence Rufino J. Cardinal Santos who appointed the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Justiniano Ortiz as Secretary of the organization.  The office address was at >Pius XII Center.  Previous to this date, Msgr. Ortiz was asked by His Eminence to attend the AOS World Congress held in Vigo, Spain, in 1957.  The occasion was well utilized by Monsignor to become acquainted with this ministry in Europe and USA.  He returned full of enthusiasm for his new ministry.  He organized two National Congresses and was instrumental in expanding the apostolate in several other ports in the Philippines.  The suspicious atmosphere created by the Marcos dictatorship and the militaries from the early 70s onward practically suspended entirely this apostolate.  In 1979, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John O’ Shea, AOS National Director in Australia, was invited over to revive the apostolate but the pick-up was slow.

In June 1984, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin entrusted this apostolate to the care of the Scalabrini Fathers who had expanded  their mission for migrants and seafarers from Australia to the Philippines in the later months of 1982.  Fr. Antoni Paganoni, C.S. was nominated as Executive Secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Migration and Tourism (ECMT) and AOS Chaplain.  The Chairman of this Commission was Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes with Bishop Porfirio R. Ilagan as Bishop Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea.  In 1995, ECMT changed its name to ECMI (Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People) with Bishop Ramon C. Arguelles taking over the Chairmanship of ECMI and Bishop Sofio G. Balce elected to assist him as Bishop Promoter of the AOS.  In late 1997, Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas was elected AOS Bishop Promoter and he continues this role to the present.

The AOS service expanded in Manila from early 80’s.  In June 1989, an AOS  service was opened in Davao with a “Stella MarisCenter” entrusted to Rev. Fr. Jack Walsh of the Maryknoll Missionaries.  In April 1991,  AOS expanded to the port of Cebuwith Rev. Roland Doriol, S.J. as in charge.  Also, since January 1995, a National Director was appointed in the person of Rev. Fr. CarlosOda, C.S., and then, Rev. Fr. Jack Walsh since 1997.  The year 1996 was particularly productive with the publication of the valuable “AHOY Manual for Filipino Seafarers,” the quarterly publication of the “AHOY Newsmagazine” and a Prayer Book for seafarers.  In the same year, by Presidential Decree No. 828, President Fidel V. Ramos instituted the National Seafarers’ day on August 18, now celebrated on the last Sunday of September following the subsequent Presidential Decree No. 1094.  In Manila, Fr. Savino Bernardi, C.S., was appointed as Director and Chaplain in place of Fr. C. Oda in August 1996.  More recent developments have seen the opening of this apostolate in Cagayan de Oro with Fr. Columbus Villamil as Chaplain (October 1997) and in Iligan with Msgr. Leo Leviste (November 1999).  Presently, AOS have centers, which is composed of five priests, one religious brother, two sisters, twenty lay staff members, and many volunteers.