The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising the ministry of charity (diakonia). These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable. For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.
These words of Pope Benedict XVI encapsulate the principles of the Catholic Church and all her agencies. The Apostleship of the Sea is the Church’s agency for the People of the Sea. Our task is to offer pastoral care to all those who live from seafaring and fishing, their dependents and communities.
In this age of globalisation, the maritime world is governed by market economy which demands productivity at all costs. People of the Sea pay the price in human terms: harsh working conditions, unfair wages and an impoverishment of culture.
The Church teaches that scientific and technical progress is good when it results in prosperity and the advancement of civilisation. When it results in a lowering of human dignity, the Church must take action. Humanity is not fulfilled when a human being, as an individual or as a member of a community, is forgotten or exploited by others.
The Apostleship of the Sea acts for the Church among the People of the Sea. Our mission is to offer practical help to those in need; solidarity with the oppressed; welcome and hospitality to those on the move; and spiritual sustenance to enable People of the Sea to be the light of Christ for each other.
click here to learn more about People of the Sea
click here to learn more about our work
The Apostleship of the Sea is part of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Bishop Tom Burns of AOS Great Britain presents the Stella Maris icon to Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter's Square.
The King will say...“come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.”
Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?”
And the King will answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
