Mass on board ship after crewman dies

The Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) has organised Mass for the crew of a cargo ship following the death of their colleague.

The crew of the MV Moonray were left distressed and saddened when a 26 year-old Filipino crew member died after an accident on board late May.

The ship docked at Mombasa Port, Kenya late June, and AoS Mombasa port chaplain George Sunguh has been on board to support the crew.

"I was able arrange for a priest, Fr Harisson Yaa, to celebrate Mass on board. He also blessed several cabins and other areas on the ship as requested by the crew," he said. "The presence of an AoS port chaplain and priest on board was a source of great comfort and support to the crew," he added.

The dead seafarer and the ship's crew are known to AoS Tilbury port chaplain Wojciech Holub, who visited them previously. Wojciech had met them when the MV Moonray was docked at Gravesend, Kent, in early May.

"We had spent time talking with the deceased seafarer and his colleagues and praying with them," he said, adding that he was shocked when he learnt about the man's death. It makes you appreciate the dangers and risks that seafarers face in the course of their work," he added.

Read more about the AoS here: www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk