Caring for the Seafarers
The following thanks was received from the Master of one of the ships that recently visited Mackay. While the ship was in port, the staff and volunteers of The Seafarers Centre were able to distribute welfare packs to the seafarers onboard.
All the crew on Alpine Madeleine would like to thank you for the care packages, which will be very helpful to us on board.
In this horrible situation, it is heartening to know that there are still people ashore who care for seafarers well being.
All of us on board were touched by the thought and care that went into the care packages.
We hope that the next time vessel visits Mackay, the situation worldwide would have been resolved and we will be able to thank you in person.
Wishing you and your families the best of health.
Peter Cahill, the director of the Stella Maris Seafarers Centre here describes their work of service and how they have adapted under the Covid-19 restrictions.
Church Remembers Seafarers
Stella Maris Seafarers Centre in Mackay is the Catholic Church’s missionary work to seafarers whether they be on merchant, passenger or fishing vessels. The Mackay’s Seafarers Centre has been caring for the spiritual, social and material welfare of all seafarers without distinction of colour, race or creed since it was built in 1995.
Like most of the world, the Centre Manager, Peter Cahill, had to close the doors of the ministry on 20th March 2020. Peter said for seafarers worldwide, this situation has been devastating and taken a real mental toll. He says there are over, ‘100,000 seafarers worldwide that don’t have a contract. Their contracts are expired, but they are still working on their ships because they cannot come ashore and so cannot get back to their families. Even if they could come ashore, they can’t fly home.’
Under normal conditions, the centre offers a safe family-based environment for quality shore time. The centre is set up with free Wi-Fi for seafarers to contact families and loved ones while they are ashore; they have a pool table, book exchange, a souvenir shop, prepaid phone cards and recharge cards as well as money exchange facilities, a bar, TV and second-hand clothes store. They also facilitate hospital visits for any that have taken ill en route to this part of the world.
The good news is that since restrictions have eased and under appropriate conditions, Peter has been able to have some volunteers and centre’s drivers come back and start packaging and delivering ‘Crew Welfare Packs’. They have filled these packs with what the seafarers would buy if they came to shore: writing pad and pen, razor, socks, toothbrush, shampoo, a bag of sweets of some descriptions, etc.
Peter remarked, ‘these packs speak volumes to them that someone is thinking of them, they are not by themselves, and they are not forgotten’.
The efforts of Peter’s team and its impacts can be seen when you read one of the many recent messages from those who have received their packs:
“On behalf of all the crew on board, I would like to thank Stella Maris for the kind gesture shown by them by sending essential kits for all the 21 crew members on board. Appreciate their efforts for caring about the seafarers in the current difficult situation faced worldwide.”
Apostleship of the Sea National Director, Roslyn Rajasingam said while the economy has slowed down in a number of areas due to COVID-19, the international movement of goods has largely continued.
“Many of the essential items that have helped Australia work its way through various stages of the pandemic so far are products that arrived here by sea,” she said.
“Many working on the seas haven’t been able to set foot on dry land for months, and that situation could extend for another 12 to 18 months. Our centres are trying to ensure those men and women feel our love and our prayers.”
The Catholic Church in Australia marks Sea Sunday on July 12, when parishes typically take up special collections for the ministry to seafarers on that day. That hasn’t been able to happen because of COVID-19 restrictions. If you wish to support this important service of our Church please consider an online donation.
Visit the Apostleship of the Sea Australia website for more details and to donate.
Alternatively, to donate for the welfare packs you can contact Stella Maris, Mackay on 4943 4038.