Easter in Gdynia
Two participants describe the 2007 Easter celebrations at the Stella Maris Centre in Gdynia
Adam Stróżyk, Chief Engineer tells us:
The Stella Maris Centre, Gdynia
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"At Easter, the oldest and most important Christian festival, all Christian denominations celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every year at Gdynia’s Stella Maris Club, there is a gathering of seafarers and communities who depend on the sea. This year, as usual, there were many participants. For seafarers far from their native shores, the Stella Maris Club is a special place. The Easter gathering gives them a taste of home and reminds us all that we are one family united by the sea.
The period between the Passover and the glory of the Resurrection is a time of strength and renewal for all of us. We seafarers have a huge respect for the power of nature which causes cataclysmic events. We understand how little we can do alone and so we take any opportunity we can to be together.
This year’s Easter gathering included seafarers whose ships were moored in the port of Gdynia together with representatives of maritime organisations such as the Captains of the Ocean Going Navigation Association and the Marine Chief Engineers Association with their families and friends. The whole event was under the care and protection of Fr Edward Pracz who is the director and co-ordinator of AOS in Poland. Fr Edward is also organising the forthcoming AOS world congress, moving the spirit of solidarity among People of the Sea."
Fr Edward shares food with three seafarers |
Janusz Kubański, driver in Stella Maris, Gdynia reports:
"Seafarers from the merchant ships moored in Gdynia were invited to an Easter gathering. This has been a tradition for years. Everyone is welcome at the table regardless of religion, beliefs or nationality. Greeks, Filipinos and Russians were present this year as Catholic and Orthodox celebrations co-incided.
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Fr Edward Pracz opens the celebration with a prayer. Then an Easter egg is shared among everyone and Easter wishes exchanged. There is plenty of food including different types of eggs, cakes, fruit, wine and juice. Pride of place on the table is given to the Easter lamb.
A queue forms for the phone booths. Today everyone wants to hear the voice of a loved one, if only for a moment. We try to control our emotions with a friendly smile. A senior seafarer from Warsaw shows us a video of his 11 year old daughter. He lets us know how important it is to him to have these few moments of relaxation and celebration.
This is true for everyone. During this special Easter period we do our best to help seafarers to relax and forget, if only for one night, the routines of everyday life. We see them after telephone conversations with loved ones, discreetly wiping the tears from their eyes, smiling and relaxed as they forget about the hard life that they endure onboard ship.
It does not require much to help to relieve the stress, tension and tiredness of a seafarer: engaging him in calm conversation, taking an interest, listening to him, asking about his family – in short, acknowledging his humanity.
Nor do we forget the Liturgy of the Word. This year Catholic seafarers from the Philippines took an active part. In our service, we try to include their longing for home, the sense of separation and the everyday problems of life onboard ship.
The seafarers especially love Father Edward whose characteristics are joie de vivre, openness and a sincere interest in the seafarers’ lives. Fr Edward did everything he could this Easter to reduce the loneliness of seafarers and make them feel happy."
Guests at the celebration with their ship in Gdynia docks.
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During the celebrations, seafarers exchanged stories of Easter customs in their home countries. Here is a selection.
“We start celebrating on Holy Thursday, working at that time is a sin and on Easter Sunday we sit down to a ceremonial dinner.”
Gonzales Raymond, electrician on the ship Sea Prince
“We bless our harvests. I live in the countryside and we have different traditions than in the city.”
Alvarez Cezar Jr., seafarer on the ship German
“Holidays on the ship are lonely and empty. I’m happy that I can spend them on the mainland right here in Gdynia. You’re joyful, open and friendly.”
Emanuel Doloranez, warehouse worker
“We go to the Orthodox Church to celebrate the Resurrection just before midnight.”
Anton Ivanov from the ship BP Polar
“We have a tradition of visiting the graves of our parents on the second day of holidays.”
Dimitri Alekseev, senior mechanic from the ship Wilson Riga
“I cannot imagine Easter without cooking the Easter lamb. It is a tradition in every Greek home.”
Konstantinos Spirelos, Captain of the Sea Prince
click here for contact details of AOS in Gdynia
