ICMA members are invited to join in prayers for Christian unity. Barcelona-based port chaplain Ricardo Rodríguez-Martos, ICMA’s Regional Coordinator for the Black Sea, Middle East and Mediterranean Region reports that, from January 18th to 25th, Christians will celebrate the week of prayer for Christian unity. In a letter to his region, Ricardo says It would [...]
Volunteers are crucial to all ICMA members’ care of seafarers. The Volunteer Bulletin, a regular newsletter of The Mission to Seafarers in Geelong, Australia, reports on the activities of Geelong’s valued volunteers. The December 2011 issue (CLICK HERE to find it on our Members’ Newsletters page) contains links to “Seachurch” video clips on youtube, including [...]
Guides for shipping companies to support seafarers and families affected by piracy have been published. The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) released the guides in Manila on November 23rd. Guides aimed at chaplains and welfare workers, seafarers and trade unions will follow in early 2012. Take a look at these guides on the webpage [...]
Port Chaplain Ms Paddy Percival is nominated for the ICSW’s Seafarers Welfare Personality of the Year Award. Paddy is part of the International Sailors Society of Southern Africa, which is linked to ICMA member The Sailors Society. Paddy serves seafarers in the Port of Durban, South Africa. Ms Patricia (Paddy) Percival has faithfully provided a [...]
The change in perception is significant. Injustices and natural distasters inflicted upon Somali’s have elevated pirates locally to the Robin Hoods of the seas. However, this view now seems to be changing, with more Somalis turning away from pirates and condemning their acts. Mohammed Adow reports from Al Jazeera that in the town of Eyl [...]
The Vereniging Maritiem Gezinskontakt (VMG) has discussed communication between seafarers and their families in collaboration with ICMA member the Stichting Pastoraat Werkers Over Zee. The VMG (society for maritime contact with home, based in the Netherlands) had a themed day on 18th November. In a press statement prior to the event the VMG gave examples [...]
ICMA’s faith-based commitment to care for people of the sea is all too apparant in this inspirational message from Kaohsiung port chaplain Father Roger Cortuna Manalo. Writing for the newly launched bi-monthly Newsletter of the Stella Maris Seafarers Centre of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Father Roger writes: Yes, AOS-Kaohsiung is in fact, on fire… with the [...]
