Two Seafarers’ Centers Damaged by Hurricane Laura
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 hurricane, left significant damage at the Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, after it made landfall on the Texas-Louisiana border last Thursday. “Half of our roof was lost,” said Deacon Patrick Lapoint, director of
Stella Maris Vancouver: Practical and Pastoral Care for the People of the Sea
We all seek people we can trust. When seafarers come to a port city after days or weeks at sea, they appreciate the same. Care of seafarers is nearly as old as the profession. The Apostleship of the Sea, or Stella
Beirut’s devastating port explosion echoes the 1917 Halifax Harbour blast
By Jack L. Rozdilsky, York University - The Conversation As the scope of the Aug. 4 explosion at the port of Beirut becomes clear, the tolls of the loss of life, injuries, homelessness and property damage are staggering. In the immediate chaos of
Montreal Ministry to Seafarers Sees Developments, Adaptations, Hardship During COVID-19
By Maia VanderMeer, Banner It’s Friday afternoon, July 24, and Michelle DePooter-Francis is on her way to Walmart to pick up items requested by seafarers restricted to their ships. DePooter-Francis is lead chaplain of the Ministry to Seafarers, a mission in the
Vancouver Center Replicates Its Outreach: Lighthouse Harbour Ministries
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The Lighthouse Harbour Ministries in the port of Vancouver, British Columbia sees itself as the evangelical outcome of God’s work among committed communities with an eternal purpose. This mission understands its mandate: to love and honor God
Great Podcasts for those in Seafarers’ Welfare
By Jason Zuidema, NAMMA I have been looking forward to writing this list for a long time. I love podcasts - listening to great audio is one of my favourite pastimes. Though we might think of the 21st century as a time
Bluewater connections: Serving seafarers in Sarnia, Ontario
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Shared experiences enable us to care about others. We connect with others if we can personally relate with their experience. Such was the case when Anglican priest, Steven Gilbert, started a mission to seafarers in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1983. His son
The New Norm in Caring for Seafarers
By Rev Un Tay, Senior Chaplain, Mission to Seafarers - Sydney, Australia Shopping for Seafarers Many of you know by now that despite the lockdown we have been very busy serving the seafarers calling at our Port. Though we have stopped our
Facilitate crew changes and support out-of-work seafarers: A renewed call to work together from welfare organisations
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), and the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), with their respective memberships of concerned shipping companies and seafarers’ ministries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, encourage governments and the maritime industry to continue to work together to
Seafarers finding support at the dot on the map between Canada and the rest of the world – The Mission to Seafarers: Port of Thunder Bay
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Between the grain fields of western Canada and continents across the Atlantic rests a small port where industry experts balance grain supplies and global demands. As of June 30, the Thunder Bay Port Authority reports exports are