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A group of 14 boys and girls from one of the poorest areas of the port town of Progreso, on the Yucatan Peninsula, enjoyed an unforgettable Christmas in 2007. The children were invited to visit the cruise ship Holiday which belongs to the Carnival Company and docks in the port of Progreso every two weeks.
Fr Lorenzo Mex Jiménez, national director of AOS Mexico, parish priest in Progreso and director of the Stella Maris Centre there, organised the visit at the invitation of the cruise line. They were joined by teacher Dulce María López, port pastoral worker Antonio Buenfil and his wife María Isabel.
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The children arrived on time and were taken to the port by bus. For a few hours, they experienced life onboard a luxury cruise liner. Adrián, head of hotel services onboard, was their guide. Together with several members of the crew, he took time to give them a wonderful experience which the boys and girls thoroughly enjoyed.
The children explored the gaming rooms, restaurants, theatre, videogame salon (which they liked so much they did not want to leave!) swimming pools, study area, gymnasium and crazy golf course. They even had an appointment with Alan, the captain of the ship. The captain, of Italian nationality, gave the children a clear and simple explanation of how a ship works.
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The first officer responsible for hotel services then served an excellent meal for the young guests in one of the ship’s restaurants. With so many surprises, the children began to relax and became more confident. Soon they were asking questions and taking a real interest in all the novelties which they were experiencing onboard.
But the greatest surprise was still to come. It arrived just after lunch. Several of the officers and members of the crew arranged a meeting with “Father Christmas”. He and the ship’s mascot distributed presents, souvenirs and sweets to the children. Presents were also given to the representatives of the Stella Maris Centre to be distributed to other children who had not been able to join the visit. As a sign of solidarity, the crew organised a collection which they gave to Fr Lorenzo for the poor of the parish.
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The visit ended after lunch when the paying passengers began to return to the ship in order to set sail. The act of generosity and willingness to serve the less fortunate on the part of the crew was made even sweeter by the delight and appreciation of the young guests. They certainly enjoyed a different experience this Christmas.
