Cruise Ship Chaplain Helps Passengers and Crew

18 January 2012

Seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea, which is well supported in our diocese, has spoken of how its chaplain helped passengers on board the Costa Concordia, which sank off the Italian coast.

The cruise ship was carrying thousands of passengers and hundreds of crew. The chaplain onboard assisted shocked crew and passengers, including those injured. 
 
National Director of the Apostleship of the Sea in Italy Father Giacomo Martino said: “The work of cruise chaplains onboard is of great value to encourage and support crew and passengers at difficult moments.”

He praised the crew of the ship saying: “The crew worked to save passengers with great generosity and a spirit of selflessness.”

The local Apostleship of the Sea joined with other agencies to distribute clothing and food to thousands of passengers at the Savona cruise terminal where. It also provided spiritual and emotional support.

The priest and parishioners on the island of Giglio, where the ship sank, worked during the night to assist those leaving the ship.

Father Giacomo called for prayers to be offered for those who have died and those missing.
 
Each year the Apostleship of the Sea deploys chaplains on many cruise lines to support the pastoral and practical welfare of crew and passengers. 
 
Last year more than 700 cruise chaplains provided 15,000 days of cruise chaplaincy across the world.