Hull

Pastoral care fit for a prince

When Prince William joins Royal Navy Warship HMS Iron Duke in the summer of 2008, he can be sure that officers know about the pastoral care of seafarers. They have been briefed by Anne McLaren, AOS port chaplain in Hull.

Anne went onboard the Type 23 frigate when it visited Hull in April 2008. All ships of the Royal Navy are affiliated to towns or cities. The Iron Duke enjoys close ties with Kingston-upon-Hull. While the ship was alongside King George Dock, local people were invited to come and meet the crew. Anne took the opportunity to introduce herself and talk about seafarers' welfare. She says

"I discussed my role as a port chaplain with some of the officers. They were really interested to hear about the work that AOS does with seafarers".

Prince William will spend five weeks onboard the Iron Duke as part of his naval training. He is likely to participate in operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean seas.

Easter 2008

Passenger ferry Pride of Bruges is a regular visitor to the port of Hull. Lay chaplain Anne McLaren arranged for colleague Fr Colum Kelly from Immingham to say Mass onboard for Easter.

Christmas in Hull

Anne McLaren is appointed chaplain to the Port of Hull

Anne began her duties as AOS chaplain to the port of Hull in January 2008. Already experienced in maritime ministry, she became an AOS volunteer ship visitor in 2006, working with Fr Colum Kelly in the port of Immingham. Together with three other members of her parish, Anne then formed a ship visiting team to look after the port of New Holland.

Anne’s parish, St Augustine Webster in the village of Barton-Upon-Humber, provides vital support to AOS in the Humber region. In addition to ship visiting, members of the parish knit hats, raise funds, and help to spread the word about our ministry to seafarers. Despite lacking a full-time parish priest, St Augustine's has a lively parish life. As part of the pastoral team, Anne has recently been catechist to ten candidates for Confirmation.

Clearly blessed with boundless energy, Anne, a trained solicitor, is mother of two teenaged boys, a foundation governor at a Catholic school, and assistant leader in the local Beavers, the junior branch of the Scout Movement. She stresses that all of her pastoral work is only possible thanks to the continuing support of her family and fellow parishioners.

Anne is based in the Hull ecumenical seafarers' centre which was officially opened in July 2007. She took over from David Burke who left AOS GB in November 2007 to work in youth ministry for the diocese of Westminster. Thanks in part to David's excellent work, Anne can count on a strong team of volunteer ship visitors in the port of Hull.

Attending a recent course at Ushaw College, Anne and her fellow participants were asked to define chaplaincy. This is her response:

Walking alongside and sharing their journey, finding and witnessing Christ in each other.

AOS GB was delighted to welcome her onboard as a fulltime port chaplain.

click here to read about the opening of the Hull seafarers' centre