Adapting methods for seafarers’ ministry in uncertain times
Image: When seafarers arrived in the Port of Montreal on April 3, they texted local Chaplain David Rozeboom for some sweets which he then purchased and delivered to the gangway. The coronavirus crisis has deeply impacted the ministry methods of Christian
Strategy for digital chaplaincy to seafarers
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
Communicating in the crisis
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
Connect/Disconnect – The Art of Visiting Ships
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
The Flight Home
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
Celebrating Christmas at Sea
Image: Chaplain James Kollin of the Seamen's Church Institute with a seafarer wearing a new watch cap and scarf. While crinkled tinsel hangs in the mess room and a slightly battered artificial tree is pulled from storage, Christmas on ships is
Giving in Secret
By Rev. Stefan Francke, SWPO Homily ICMA World Conference Kaohsiung 2019 – Tuesday October 22 Matthew 6.1-4 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father
Promises
Photo: Ship Portrait: Challenge Phoenix. Louis Vest. Flickr. By Rev. Mark Lawson-Jones, Port Chaplain – South Wales, Mission to Seafarers ’That’s Life’ Eventually we discover that people will let us down, they will promise things they won’t deliver. You might be
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