Sea Sunday

Sunday 8th July is Sea Sunday, when the Church remembers all those who live and work at sea. Seafarers are commonly recruited from poorer countries where wages are lower. They work in difficult and often dangerous conditions suffering from loneliness, spiritual deprivation and even exploitation as they transport the goods we use and consume every day. The average contract results in them spending ten months at sea at one time. Interestingly, there is an unusually high percentage of Catholics among seafarers.

The Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain. It reaches out to seafarers that visit our ports each year, offering pastoral and practical support and care.

AoS is wholly dependent on voluntary donations, receiving no official funding from either the Church or the government; it takes the love of Christ to seafarers in the name of the Church, recognising them as our brothers and sisters in need. Sea Sunday is our chance to help AoS make a difference to the lives of seafarers. The parish will take up a second collection this Sunday – please give generously. www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk.