FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD: Thank you, Pinoy seafarers!

Thank you, Pinoy seafarers!
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD September 29, 2019 https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/29/thank-you-pinoy-seafarers/

Today, September 29, is National Seafarers Sunday. According to the office of the Apostleship of the Sea in Manila headed by Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS, director and chaplain, “seafarers” is a broad term which refers to people working in ships, active and retired seamen, fishermen, those waiting for maritime employment, including maritime students.

* * *

While the Apostleship of the Sea provides primarilly spiritual comfort and assistance to seafarers, it also offers counseling and para-legal support in cases of abusive and illegal treatments, medical claims on accidents and disability in the line of duty.

* * *

I remember the late SVD missionary Fr. Ben Prado, who was in charge of Filipino seafarers in Jakarta, Indonesia. He related to me how he, in his aged condition, would climb up the gigantic cargo or passenger ships where many Filipino seamen worked, and he would celebrate Mass.

* * *

Part of the pastoral work was to collect the salaries of the seamen and saw to it that they reached their families back home.

“I outwitted those seamen when I told them to ‘surrender’ their salaries to me and I forward them to their families. Otherwise,” he said smiling, “their hard-earned monies would be dissipated for ‘good’ time or some vices.”

Fr. Prado, the energetic, and simple-hearted missionary deeply loved by the seafarers, spent more than 50 years working in Indonesia until he passed away.

* * *

For those who wish to know more about the Apostleship of the Sea or seek help regarding problems of seafarers, contact Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS, director and AOS chaplain, with office on Bonifacio Drive corner 8th St., Port Area, Manila, or e-mail [email protected].
Thank you, Pinoy seafarers!
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Published September 29, 2019, 12:25 AM

WORD ALIVE

By FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD

Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

Today, September 29, is National Seafarers Sunday. According to the office of the Apostleship of the Sea in Manila headed by Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS, director and chaplain, “seafarers” is a broad term which refers to people working in ships, active and retired seamen, fishermen, those waiting for maritime employment, including maritime students.

* * *

While the Apostleship of the Sea provides primarilly spiritual comfort and assistance to seafarers, it also offers counseling and para-legal support in cases of abusive and illegal treatments, medical claims on accidents and disability in the line of duty.

* * *

I remember the late SVD missionary Fr. Ben Prado, who was in charge of Filipino seafarers in Jakarta, Indonesia. He related to me how he, in his aged condition, would climb up the gigantic cargo or passenger ships where many Filipino seamen worked, and he would celebrate Mass.

* * *

Part of the pastoral work was to collect the salaries of the seamen and saw to it that they reached their families back home.

“I outwitted those seamen when I told them to ‘surrender’ their salaries to me and I forward them to their families. Otherwise,” he said smiling, “their hard-earned monies would be dissipated for ‘good’ time or some vices.”

Fr. Prado, the energetic, and simple-hearted missionary deeply loved by the seafarers, spent more than 50 years working in Indonesia until he passed away.

* * *

For those who wish to know more about the Apostleship of the Sea or seek help regarding problems of seafarers, contact Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS, director and AOS chaplain, with office on Bonifacio Drive corner 8th St., Port Area, Manila, or e-mail [email protected].