About AOS
Bishop promoters
In each country in which AOS is present, a national bishop promoter plays a vital role.
The bishop promoter supports the work of AOS within his country. He liaises with other bishops and with his Episcopal Conference, informing them of the work of AOS, sharing his vision and evolving strategic plans. In this way, he fosters co-operation with the local Church. Within AOS, bishop promoters advise, oversee and offer spiritual support to pastoral and administrative workers.
The AOS world congress in Gdynia, 2007, included a round table discussion on the role of the bishop promoter. Archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski, Archbishop of Gdansk and AOS Bishop Promoter for Poland, discussed the task of liaising with the Episcopal Conference. He observed that, in general, coastal dioceses face similar situations but that bishops in inland dioceses may also be aware of the problems affecting People of the Sea. After all, seafarers often come from inland areas and that is where their families live.
The Archbishop said that the local Church should be present for visiting seafarers. It is the task of all members of the Apostleship of the Sea, including bishop promoters, to ensure that visiting seafarers find a warm and friendly Church which reminds them of their own local Churches far away. In reaching out to seafarers we should remember
“One of the most crucial methods of evangelisation is to show kindness to them”.
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Archbishop Goclowski | Bishop Mar Ignathios | Fr Fonseca |
Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, Bishop of Mavelikara and AOS Bishop Promoter for India, also talked of liasising with coastal parishes. Many parish groups such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Legion of Mary are already involved in the pastoral care of seafarers, for example in ship visiting. Parishes in coastal dioceses need to work together.
A “beyond the bell tower” attitude is necessary. This means looking beyond the confines of the Church walls and developing specific outreach to the People of the Sea.
Bishop Joshua said,
“The people of God in a particular parish should be made to feel that AOS is everybody’s concern.”
Fr Samuel Fonseca, AOS Regional Co-ordinator for Central and South America and National Director for Brazil, reflected on the task of bishop promoters within AOS. In addition to spiritual support, they play a strategic role, selecting and deploying pastoral workers and overseeing the development of AOS projects.
Fr Samuel summarised:
“The role of the bishop promoters is aimed at sowing, encouraging and fostering the formation of chaplains, religious and pastoral agents so that they will give continuity to the projects for the care of the People of the Sea.”
click here to read more about the AOS world congress 2007
click here to read about the two Bishop Promoters of AOS Great Britain