A Letter to St. Francis
by Fr. Arnaud de Boisseau, Chaplain, Port of Casablanca, Morocco, May 2016. (Translated by Jason Zuidema. Original French text in: François d’Assise et Marseille, ed. Mgr Jean-Marc Aveline, Auxiliary bishop of Marseille, Institut Catholique de la Mediteranée, 2016. Used with permission.) St. Francis, I do
The Lighthouse: a friend of the mariner
(Image: East Quoddy Head Lighthouse, [Head Harbor Light since 1829.] Campobello Island, NB, Canada. Photo courtesy of Nicholas Nasobko). Lighthouses are the friend of the mariner, and they have a long history of service to seafarers. There are some 21,200 of
Chaplaincy to Seafarers from a Sailboater’s Perspective
Over the last year, NAMMA member Eric Phinney of the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission and his wife Val have been sailing in a sailboat called Tevah (the Hebrew word used for both Noah’s ark and Moses’ basket). The trip gave
“I know chaplains who are hurting”: Confronting Isolation
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Isolation goes viral The poet John Donne’s line, “no man is an island,” is not only great poetry, but a human reality: people need to be connected. Yet loneliness and isolation seep into our lives even in a
Responding with Compassion to Those in Need: Archbishop Hiltz on Mission to Seafarers
During the most recent Missions to Seafarers Canada regional meeting in Thunder Bay, Jason Zuidema of The MARE Report had a chance to sit down with The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and liaison
Finding Fulfillment in Chaplaincy
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Transitions can be a navigational challenge. But for these newly established chaplains finding fulfillment in a new role proves to be profitable. Three professionals who shifted from their previous positions to the world of serving seafarers discuss how
Growing in Service at the Houston School 2019
On the week of January 27, chaplains, ship visitors, center administrators, and others involved in maritime ministry from all over the world convened on the Houston International Seafarers’ Center (HISC) to take a NAMMA-led course on serving seafarers. Students of
The Importance of Partnerships for Seafarers Wellbeing
Presentation of ICMA General Secretary Jason Zuidema at the ISWAN Seminar Helsinki, Finland, November 23, 2018. A Story In early 1963, former seafarer and businessman Albert Liedts told members of the Houston Propeller Club that the Port of Houston was
Stress-A Maritime Constant
Stress affects everyone, but seafarers have to cope with stress that is a direct result of the unique environment that the life of a seafarer entails. For those who have never worked onboard a merchant ship, it may be difficult
Embracing Change – A Seafarer Perspective
by Rev. David Reid MA AFNI In 1968, I made a decision that would change my life. Looking back, I remember the surprise when I informed my parents that I had decided to join the British Merchant Navy. They were surprised