Around the time that Anoushah Ansari of Iran became the first woman tourist in space, Maria Emelinda Palmenco became the first woman to make a pastoral visit to a ship on behalf of AOS in Kuwait.
Maria Emelinda, who is originally from the Philippines, made the visit just 24 hours after attending the first ever training sessions held by AOS in Kuwait. She was, at the time, the lone AOS Ship Visitor when the MV Asian Emperor arrived in the port of Kuwait.
The Panamanian flagged ship had come from Southampton in the UK. She was due to leave for Mumbai in India on 22 September 2006. The majority of the crew were from the Philippines. On 21 September, they welcomed Maria Emelinda onboard with great enthusiasm.
Maria Emelinda spoke after of her joy at finding that the crew wanted to talk to her. They would have liked to go ashore but were unable to do so. Many of them had heard of Stella Maris and had visited Stella Maris Centres in other countries.
Maria Emelinda (left) shares her enthusiasm with a fellow AOS trainee in the Church premises just after her first ever ship visit.
The training which Maria attended was conducted Fr. Xavier Pinto C.Ss.R., AOS regional co-ordinator for the Gulf Region. The session was an experiment and part of the tentative launch of a Stella Maris Centre in Kuwait. Once more training has been held, all being well, a date will be chosen for the official launch of by the Bishop of Kuwait, Rev Camillo Ballin. 
Participants in the first AOS training session in Kuwait
