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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Apostleship of the Sea, or Stella Maris as it is now known, is a global charity that supports seafarers and their families. The Catholic organization founded in Scotland in 1920, offered seamen hostels where they could stay while their ships discharged cargo and prepared to sail again. The housing manned by hundreds of parish volunteers offered the sailors hospitality and care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In\nVancouver, B.C., seafarers today find a similar welcome in an abbreviated time\nframe of hours rather than days available when they dock. They look for a place\nthey can trust to give accurate information, wire money to their families,\nanswer questions concerning work-related problems, health concerns or personal\nchallenges they face. The ancient name, Stella Maris, is the logo of the\nApostleship of the Sea; a trusted name to seafarers reflecting protection and\nguidance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Vancouver Stella Maris mission, under the leadership of its port chaplain, Deacon Dileep Athaide provides practical and pastoral care to all seafarers. The mission can coordinate with 334 Stella Maris centers worldwide in 79 countries as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nformer university instructor, and most recent chaplain, Deacon Dileep has been\ncaring for seafarers since his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate in 2015. His\nbackground with labor unions, other non-profit organizations and a five-year\ncourse of study to become a deacon provides a valuable blend of knowledge and\ncompassion at the Vancouver center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\nexist for seafarers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An\nattempt to reach out to seafarers was first made in the Vancouver port in 1930,\nbut due to the depression it lasted one year before closing its doors. The club\nwas reactivated in 1937. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In\n1942, the work of the Stella Maris was assigned to St. Paul\u2019s parish on Cordova\nSt. under the guidance of the Atonement Fathers which continued supporting\nuntil at least 1980 according to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver\narchives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Church records report that since other Christian missions existed in the port, an attempt at ecumenical work was approved by Archbishop Carney in 1969 after much discussion and deliberation. The AOS joined with the Anglican Missions to Seamen, and the British Sailors Society to form the Seafarers Society of British Columbia as their goals were very similar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within\nthree years, differences in ideologies and philosophies resulted in the\ndissolution of the Society in 1973. This led to a lack of funding and a\nphysical location for the AOS. A modified mission continued operating out of\ntwo rooms in the parish rectory. Ship visitation continued and Mass on board\nwas celebrated as requested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By\n1976, the Rev. Celestine Leahy, then priest serving St. Paul\u2019s parish and\noverseeing the mission, noted that additional staff was needed to serve the AOS\noutreach. Early in 1978, Rev. Leahy traveled to New York to discuss additional\npersonnel with the Superior-General of the Atonement Fathers. No additional\nstaff was available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nnew attempt at collaboration followed between the Catholic Charities and the\nmodified mission. The result of a study conducted by an Ad Hoc Committee of the\nCatholic Charities was presented. The study concluded an authentic need for a Roman\nCatholic presence and outreach in the port clearly existed. The responsibility\nfor the AOS was transferred from the Atonement Fathers, St. Paul\u2019s parish, to\nthe Archdiocese in 1980. The Rev. Roland Joncas was appointed full-time\nchaplain. He rented office space in the Anglican mission building, but the\nStella Maris maintained its separate identity, the church documents record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAOS\nwill in every way maintain its own identity, so familiar to seamen throughout\nthe world,\u201d said the former executive director of the Catholic Charities during\nthat time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since\nthen, those involved, press through former tensions to work as a team of\nvarious faith conventions creating a community which regards the total\nwellbeing of seafarers and their families the core of their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deacon\nDileep noted that the Catholic chaplains have been ministering to seafarers in\nVancouver for 50 years. The ministry continues to evolve. It is more than\nproviding rosaries and celebrating Mass, tasks that are still necessary and\navailable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\nnature of our work has changed. It is more holistic . . . more pastoral as well\nas meeting the temporal care of the seafarers. It is getting to know them. If\nthere is a pastoral need, it will come through,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For example, I recently met two Filipino crew members who both had children less than six months old, who they have not met. The babies were born while at sea. We recognize that the pastoral and temporal needs of these men are intertwined.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Stella Maris chaplain and volunteers operate from two centres in the Vancouver port area. One is in the downtown area and the second at Roberts Bank, a suburb of Delta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both are administrated by the Anglican Church, but jointly used by the Ministry to Seafarers, with a full-time Christian Reformed Church chaplain; The Mission to Seafarers, with a full-time ordained Anglican chaplain; and the Stella Maris, with Chaplain Athaide serving part-time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOurs\nis an ecumenical setting. We work well together as a team. We coordinate our\nwork so we do not unnecessarily duplicate services,\u201d said the 70-year-old\nchaplain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nunique partnership in ministry, uncommon in other religious venues, is a gift\nto the seafarers and to Canada\u2019s largest port. The blended outreach\ndemonstrates the admonition by the late Dr. Roald Kverndal to not \u201cfracture the\nface of Christ on the waterfront.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n