Pope hails work of seafarers on Sea Sunday

Pope hails work of seafarers on Sea Sunday
received via email 9 July 2018

Pope Francis has prayed for seafarers and fishermen and their families as churches across the world celebrated Sea Sunday on July 8.

“I pray for them and their families as well as for the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea,” the Pontiff said at the Sunday Angelus in St Peter’s Square, Vatican.

The Pope also made mention “of those who live in unworthy work situations at sea”.

Thousands of churches around the world marked Sea Sunday this year with Mass and prayers for seafarers, their families and those who support them.

Proceeds from the Sea Sunday collection in Great Britain will ensure the work of Apostleship of the Sea with seafarers and fishermen can continue.

It is estimated that a third of all seafarers and fishermen are Catholic, with a large number coming from countries such as India, the Philippines and Poland

Meanwhile, in a Sea Sunday message, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican called for the protection of seafarers.

He highlighted the hardships that seafarers sometimes endure while working at sea including abandonment, inadequate personal time to rest and relax, and piracy.