by Rev. J. Loring Carpenter Fundraising for seafarers’ ministry was difficult enough before COVID-19. Now, while seafarers drift further from the public eye even as quarantines have made their lives more difficult: cruise ships still have skeleton crews, but no passengers; seafarers’ shopping on shore is done by chaplains; merchant vessels continue to supply the […]
By International Catholic Migration Commission Catholic organizations are mobilizing to address an invisible humanitarian crisis affecting men and women who work at sea, while calling on U.S.-based giant retailer Walmart to do more for the wellbeing of seafarers. Have you ever stopped to think how easily you can enjoy your favorite coffee from Brazil, use […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Gladstone Seafarers Center’s General Manager Jessica Mulhall, was asked to provide a list of her “wildest dreams” to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) on behalf of seafarers. Her list included free Wi-Fi for the ships at anchorage near the Port of Gladstone, Australia. Although the need was on the radar for years […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The huge blue ship-to-shore cranes tower above the newly developed Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. Terminal in North Charleston, S.C. Later this month container ships will begin to arrive, adding an expected 700,000 TEU’s of annual throughput to the port’s capacity. The increase in cargo delivery brings an increase in seafarer needs. […]
by Dr. Jason Zuidema, NAMMA/ICMA A video blog or vlog is a kind of blog or diary-style video that chronicles someone’s life or activities. Vlogs often combine video with text, images or other data and then shared on video-sharing platforms like YouTube or Facebook. There are thousands of popular vloggers on social media sites for […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA God uses tiny things to create big changes. Karen Parsons retired on Dec. 31, 2020, after a long career in maritime ministry. She was a young mother of three small children when she attended Mass in Detroit, Michigan, on a day which changed her life. “I took the bulletin home to […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The COVID-19 vaccination roll-outs around the world have generated many questions for those patiently waiting. We might wonder when it will be our turn and which vaccine will be available to us. These questions are not just for personal health, but because a vaccination might be soon necessary to work in […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA A collection of port chaplains and seafarers’ ministry partners from across Canada met for a round table discussion via Zoom on Feb. 8 to assess the ongoing outreach to international seafarers. Facilitated by Executive Director Dr. Jason Zuidema of the North American Maritime Ministry Association, the cross-section of mission leaders evaluated […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Smaller ports are significant when the measure is not volume of cargo or the speed of exchange, but care for seafarers. Seafarers’ welfare work in the Port of Point Comfort, Texas, with only five deepwater berths and 6 barge slips, deserves attention for its personalized care. Ship visitor, Rhonda Cummins, an […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA For seafarers’ welfare missions to do their job well, they need to be in close contact with seafarers. To respond to needs, then need first to listen to them. Awareness of needs is essential as we care for others. But the global pandemic and limited access to the Internet compromise the […]
