W. Russell Webster and USCG (Ret) Cicalese CAPT Michael A. New England’s Lifesaver: Coast Guard Legend Master Chief Jack Downey. The History Press, 2025. Review by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) The United States Coast Guard has long been one of the most trusted guardians of the maritime world. For merchant mariners in distress, the Coast Guard […]
By Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) On August 27, I had the privilege of visiting the Congregational Library and Archives in Boston, Massachusetts, together with the Rev. David Hulse, Executive Director of Seafarers’ Friend in Boston. Walking through the library’s historic building, surrounded by shelves of carefully preserved records, I was struck by how much these collections […]
During a recent visit to Panama, we had the opportunity to spend time with Fr. Ian Hutchinson Cervantes, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean with The Mission to Seafarers. Over the course of a week, it was a joy to learn from him and his colleagues about the realities of seafarers’ welfare in […]
During a recent visit to Panama, I had the opportunity to sit down with Andrea Meenken, who leads the work of the Deutsche Seemannsmission (German Seafarers’ Mission) in Panama which has partnered with The Mission to Seafarers Panama to form the Seafarers’ Mission Panama. In our conversation, Andrea shared how she first became involved in […]
by Jason Zuidema, NAMMA/ICMA My recent vacation to Panama took on an extra but deeply rewarding dimension when I set aside time to meet with local seafarers’ welfare groups. Panama is, of course, one of the most significant maritime countries in the world, and spending time here without reflecting on its maritime importance would feel […]
Joyce and Kevin Lillie, You Raise Me Up! Sister Mary Scholastica Sunderland’s Angel of Mercy. An inspirational story of dedication and devotion to community missionary work. 2025. Review by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA/ICMA) In You Raise Me Up!, Joyce and Kevin Lillie present a warm, deeply personal portrait of Sister Mary Scholastica—born Mary Nolan on 18 […]
by Dr. Christopher Graham (NAMMA) On June 28th, friends and colleagues serving seafarers in Hampton Roads attended a regional meeting of the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA). Pastor Mario Biazon, Director of the Norfolk Seamen’s Friend Society, coordinated the morning’s event, which allowed attendees to deepen existing relationships and explore new ways of extending […]
The wellbeing of seafarers is the chief concern for those working in maritime ministry and shore-based seafarers’ welfare. An ambitious research initiative led by Professor Helen Sampson and her team at the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC), Cardiff University, shed important light on the current state of seafarers’ health across both the cruise and cargo […]
In May 2025, Deacon Paul Rosenblum traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in a series of events marking National Maritime Day and related observances. Over several days, he represented Stella Maris and the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), of which he is President, while also serving as a board member for the North […]
Jason ZuidemaHello, friends. This is Jason Zuidema, and I am here with the Reverend Eric Phinney, who has been recently named the Director of the Canada region for the Mission to Seafarers. Previously, Reverend Eric was a chaplain at the Saint John, New Brunswick mission and has lots of other pastoral and executive experience. Eric, […]
