24th National Seafarers’ Day

This year, the Apostleship of the Sea-Cebu Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center (AOS-Cebu SMSC) once again actively took the lead to celebrate the 12th Feast of Our Lady, Star of the Sea and to join the World Day of Migrants and Refugees through the celebration of the 24th National Seafarers’ Day this Sunday, September 29.

To recall, “Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary, with Star of the Sea a translation of the Latin title Stella Maris. The title has been in use since at least the early medieval period and seen as allegorical of Mary's role as a "guiding star" on the way to Christ.”

“In the twelfth century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: "If the winds of temptation arise; If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation look to the star, call on Mary; If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary. Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of your soul, look at the star, call upon Mary, as the guide and protector of seafarers.”

For many years now, the Apostleship of the Sea-Cebu has been commemorating the Feast of Stella Maris, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, with Mass and other events each year in September for seafarers.

This year, from August 19-September 19, the Image of Our Lady Star of the Sea was brought to various participating maritime offices. AOS-Cebu Chaplain Fr. John Mission also celebrated mass during these various visits.

This month-long visitation was followed, from September 20, by 9 days of Novena Masses at the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma celebrated the Novena Mass last September 22, Sunday.

For those interested to join the remaining novena-masses to end this Saturday, September 28th, please call or visit the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center, at Arellano St., Pier 4, Cebu City.

Other related activities intended to honor and serve the Peoples of the Sea included the promotion of the movie “Marineros.” Last September 21, OWWA conducted a Mental Health Awareness Seminar for Overseas Filipino Seafarers from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. Back at the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center, from 3 in the afternoon, General Milling Corporation (GMC) conducted a feeding program for and shared gift packs to about 100 Cebu Port children.

Last Sunday, September 22, GMA7 and Kapwa Ko, Mahal ko sponsored free medical/dental/surgical clinic at the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A motorcade and a morning Eucharistic Celebration ushered in the Maritime Week which started last September 23.

The celebration for Mama Mary and the seafarers will culminate in a whole day event this Sunday, September 29, starting with the Memorial at Sea - Wreath Laying Ceremony at Mactan Channel fronting Mandani Bay from 6 a.m.

From the sea, the rest of the celebration will take place at the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center. Registration will start at 8 a.m., followed at 9:30 a.m. with a Concelebrated Mass to be led by Rev. Msgr. Daniel Sanico, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cebu. At 11:00 A.M. a Tribute to Seafarers and Inspirational Talk will follow.

From 12, AGAPE Lunch has been prepared for the attendees and there will be games, raffles and freebies from 1:30 P.M. At 3:00 P.M., visits and sharing of tokens to seafarers in the nearby international and domestic ports will take place.          

Congratulations to AOS-Cebu and partners! Viva to our Lady, Star of the Sea and mabuhay to all our seafarers too!