Reflection
To do the work of Christ is really quite simple. It means to be faithful in little things, for to be faithful in little things is a big thing. It means to do one’s task, no matter how humble, not only thoroughly but joyfully. It means to make oneself available yet never to seek the limelight. It means to make oneself useful without seeking to push oneself. It means to carry one’s own burden without, as far as possible, becoming a burden on others. In a word, it means to be at one’s post, helpful and faithful, loyal and constant. Lord make me an instrument for the building of your kingdom.
Sea Sunday
Apostleship of the Sea is the Catholic Church’s maritime agency that provides spiritual and welfare support to seafarers arriving in Great Britain and ports around the world. Its extensive network of port chaplains and ship visitors offer pastoral and practical assistance to seafarers who work far from home, separated from their families, and in sometimes harsh working conditions.
Nearly 95% of what we consume in Britain arrives by ship crewed by seafarers and we are dependent upon them to bring us what we need. Due to advances in technology, modern ships no longer spend weeks in port but these days unload and load their cargoes within days or hours. Seafarers, many of whom come from Catholic countries such as the Philippines, Poland and India, spend up to nine months at a time at sea, away from their families.
AoS port chaplains and ship visitors offer seafarers practical assistance such as providing phone cards and internet access so they can communicate with their loved ones back home, and spiritual and emotional support including arranging for Mass and prayer services on board ships and being a friend to them.
Forthcoming second collections
There are second collections coming up over the next two weekends.
The first one is this Sunday, for the Apostleship of the Sea;
The second is next Sunday, 18th July, for Retired Priests.