Stella Maris brings Christmas joy to seafarers and fishers

Chris Reynolds - Image Stella Maris

Source: Stella Maris

Christmas can be a challenging time for seafarers. They miss spending this special time of the year with their family.

Many struggle to cope with homesickness. Christmas just doesn't feel like Christmas when you're thousands of miles away from home and can't be with the people you love.

But seafarers arriving on ships at the ports in the UK are never forgotten, thanks to the port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors from Stella Maris, the Catholic Church's official maritime agency.

They will be delivering Christmas presents when they visit dozens of ships in ports in the coming weeks.

Diocese support

"It's incredibly tough to be at sea at times like this. All the normal pressures of work are amplified. That's why we want to provide a gift to every seafarer who will be at sea on Christmas Day," said Chris Reynolds, a Stella Maris chaplain.

Chris and other chaplains receive tremendous local support from the parishes and parishioners in and around their places of work.

"Whatever people choose to give will mean the world. Because when a seafarer feels isolated, lost and sad this Christmas, a gift lets them know they are not forgotten," he said.

Chris knows how seafarers feel. He used to be a deck cadet on oil tankers, tall ships, and ferries. He remembers the first time he joined a ship, in South Africa. He'd never worked at sea before and was nervous.

"But then a Stella Maris chaplain strolled up the gangway with an armful of small gifts and a big smile on his face. We talked and prayed, and his visit settled me so much.

"It's not just the gifts, but the love and reassurance that chaplains like me can bring to seafarers this Christmas. A listening ear. A hand on the shoulder. Presence and solidarity."

Seafarers will be far from their families and friends on Christmas Day, but the gifts that Stella Maris' chaplains and ship visitors bring them and the pastoral and spiritual they provide brings seafarers joy, making sure that they are not forgotten.

Please say a prayer for seafarers and fishers this Christmas.
And if you can help please visit: https://stellamaris.org.uk/christmas/