Review by Dr. Jason Zuidema, NAMMA Michael Sparrow, A Century at Kilindini: The Story of Mombasa’s Mission to Seafarers 1921-2021. Nairobi, 2021. This is the second edition of the story of the mission in Mombasa, a thoroughly revised edition of the book that first came out in 2011. This edition adds more detail and many […]
In the News: Seafarers’ Ministries in North America 2022
by Jason Zuidema, NAMMA Often, seafarers’ welfare is done ‘under the radar’. It is often said that the general public does not pay all that much attention to shipping, a proverbial “sea blindness”. In previous years, this has meant that seafarers’ welfare providers needed to spend that much more time justifying their work and educating […]
Christmas Meditation: “Hail, Full of Grace”
by Dcn. Paul Rosenblum, President (NAMMA) / Stella Maris (Charleston) In the Catholic tradition, it is customary that during the fourth week of Advent the Mass readings come from Saint Luke’s “Infancy Narrative,” where he describes for us all of the events that led up to the Nativity. They are all beautiful and meaningful, but […]
Gift by Gift at Port Arthur
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The dynamic seafarers’ ministry in the Port of Port Arthur, Texas, is welcoming seafarers to its center with Christmas cheer and boarding ships with gifts. The local Stella Maris outreach operates through the Diocese of Beaumont under the leadership of Fr. Sinclair Oubre. He has been the Diocesan Director of Stella […]
Cleveland Seamen’s Service Provides Christmas Cheer
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Though we are all supposed to dream of a White Christmas, snow and ice can be challenging for seafarers. This is true on the Great Lakes in the winter when things freeze over. This year, by surprise, a Christmas celebration took place onboard a ship docked at the port in Cleveland, […]
Christmas in Port Everglades
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA As Christmas draws near, packages are moving across the country on tight schedules. At Port Everglades, FL, the crunch is always on. “Years ago, it would take days to unload a cargo ship, now it takes hours,” said Port Chaplain the Rev. Canon Sanford Sears, SSC who has been serving seafarers […]
How does Santa deliver gifts to the whole world? [Video]
Santa’s network is a lot more about ships and ports and less about reindeer and the North Pole! Check out The MARE Report for great stories of seafarers’ missions serving seafarers at Christmas.
Christmas in the Port of New Orleans
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The vision of the Port of New Orleans, La. is to advance global connections to exceed the needs of tomorrow. Within this port community is Global Maritime Ministries, a Christian outreach to the world of seafarers. The purpose of the mission mirrors that of the port it serves. It seeks to […]
Historic Christmas Giving: Christmas in New England Ports
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Innovation and progress permeate the shipping industry. But some things never change. One is the commitment to care for those who make their living at sea. Christmas programs in New England began in the 19th century. Over the years different organizations have offered homemade hats and ditty bags for those arriving […]
Christmas in Mobile, Alabama
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The Stella Maris Maritime Ministry has all hands on deck for its global Christmas giving. The ministry, under the Archdiocese of Mobile, is one of a worldwide network providing spiritual and material support to people who live and work at sea. Students from Christ the King Catholic School near the Port […]