That we all crave social contact has become painfully clear in the past weeks – we do not do well in self isolation, especially in quarantine. If there is any upside to the current crisis, it might be that we are learning that we need each other and we can’t take each other for granted. […]
ICMA is in conversation with Rev. Philip Edell, Chaplain and director of The Mission to Seafarers in Dunkirk, France about how to boost efforts at digital chaplaincy. Listen to the original conversation (link here) or read the interview here. (We have lightly edited for clarity). Jason Zuidema: Welcome everyone. It’s great to see you all […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA For years, chaplains at international seafarers centers have concerned themselves with the problem of isolation at sea. Work at sea has always been isolating, no doubt, so seeing the growth of new tools for communication via Internet has been a key provision in our network. It is a way to stay […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Adaptability is the marker for successful care among seafaring centers regarding the Coronavirus. Ship visiting is normally a primary contact for meeting seafarer’s needs. The opportunity for face-to-face contact is slimming quickly as fear of the spreading epidemic rises. Regardless of location, North American centers are wrestling to provide care in […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA As seafarers travel the world so does the current pandemic. Yet in light of associated challenges with the Coronavirus the opportunity to care for those living and working on ships remains a high priority. Ministries are adapting their practices as the news changes. Seafarer center’s websites are posting World Health Organization […]
From March 9-11, more than 50 participants took part in a conference on the future of seafarers’ welfare at the Brentwood Hotel in beautiful, windy Wellington, New Zealand. The conference theme, “Winds of Change”, helped participants understand their current identity and partnerships, but also practical suggestions for future development. The point was not just to […]
There is a lot to learn in welfare and wellbeing service to seafarers. It is a unique occupation that requires unique skills: listening, social service or pastoral care are harder for many of us than we would like to admit; a port community is a busy, commercial environment in which human needs can easily be […]
The Houston School’s 2020 Session A weeklong course on maritime ministry has once again been hosted by the Houston International Seafarers’ Center (HISC) and NAMMA with the endorsement of AOS United States and ICMA. Instructors taught on a range of topics, some focused more on connecting with seafarers, others on the organizational aspects of seafarers’ […]
The theme of 2019’s NAMMA conference in Charleston, SC was studying connections and disconnections in our modern world. After leaving the conference, I continued to reflect on that theme, especially to do with what ship visitors do on a daily basis. Connecting and disconnecting with others is so normal an experience that we often do […]
Photo: Fidel Labrador with Susanne Hergoss, Felix Tolle, and Dr. Wolfgang Baumeier. Deutsches Seemannsheim Hamburg – Krayenkamp. by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Dotted around the globe are people drawn by compassion to care for those who work at sea. An interlocking of hands and hearts provides hope and encouragement to families of seafarers, spiritual nourishment to […]
