For the People of the Sea

With the year about to end and a new one soon to begin, the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS-Cebu) conducted a strategic planning session yesterday. Based at the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center at the Cebu Port, the staff and volunteers joined Fr. John Mission, AOS-Cebu chaplain, to review and visualize the pastoral work and services they have shared for 2018 and which they plan to share for 2019.

The pastoral arm of AOS-Cebu, headed by Ms. Sol Velez, has for its goal till December 2022, the commitment to reach out to the “People of the Sea” in all parishes of the Archdiocese of Cebu and beyond, providing holistic, timely, and relevant interventions and services.

The People of the Sea include the merchant seafarers, those who work for local and international shipping companies. For visiting seafarers, AOS-Cebu conducts daily domestic and foreign ship visitation. During this time, mass on board, mass transport, Christmas gift-giving, and parties are prepared for them.

For local seafarers who are in need, the AOS-Cebu conducts home visitation, case referrals to seafarer-related agencies and organizations like the ITF, ISWAN, POEA and OWWA. Legal counseling as well as financial assistance (one-time help for medical and other cases) are also extended as needed. Hospital visitation is done every Thursday at the AMOSUP and other hospitals. They are also envisioning a help desk to be placed in an agency frequented by seafarers.

Still for the local seafarers, they also provide support for capacity building, like Liturgy of the Word Ministers’ Training, Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar with OWWA and foreign language class. Finally, they also intend to establish a research and resource unit for policy making. They are conducting a survey of the present needs of seafarers.

Fisherfolks are also part of their apostolate. AOS-Cebu hopes to lobby for policies and better practices for the welfare of the fisherfolks. Their present survey among fisherfolks throughout Cebu Province showed several cases of human trafficking, not only within but beyond Cebu Province. Part of their strategic plan is to intensify their information drive and advocacy to protect fisherfolks and their family members from human trafficking.

Pastoral care also includes the protection of our environment, especially the preservation of marine and coastal resources. They have done and will continue to do mangrove tree planting and coastal clean-up, together with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

AOS-Cebu also includes maritime students in their apostolate. Value formation is done through retreats and recollections. AOS-Cebu is also reaching out to various student groups in maritime schools to organize “AOS” chapters. Talks and seminars on spirituality and values, about maritime-related laws, gender sensitivity, HIV, alcoholism, drugs, gambling, health, safety consciousness, among others, are conducted and will continue to be done for next year.

Counseling is also a very crucial service for the maritime students as well as the other groups that constitute the people of the sea. Next year’s plan is to provide a certificate counseling training for interested parties to develop more who can provide counseling to the increasing number needing this. Excellence awards are also provided to inspire the students to do their best in their studies.

The families of seafarers are also among the people of the sea. AOS-Cebu hopes to develop broader participation from and support network for them. Surveys and AOS orientations in parishes including family counseling, recollections, monthly formation and youth mobilization and livelihood skills training are part of the pastoral care program.

Finally, volunteers and port workers and residents are included in the pastoral ministry of AOS-Cebu for the People of the Sea.