The mission of port chaplaincy is different from other missions and parishes. As the seafarers navigate "afloat" on the waters, our mission is also serving the spiritual and temporal needs of a sea-bound "floating" community of seafarers.

Our mission is going out in search of the sheep and as Pope Francis describes it: “take on the smell of the sheep”.

Visiting the ships, offering mass on board the ship, blessing of the cabins of the crew and the ship, organizing pick up schedules for the seafarers to our centres, offering the service of counselling and the needed assistance to the sick, injured and those bearing personal worries on board.

We are also connected to the families of the seafarers, particularly in times of accidental deaths or suicides,  offering consolation and assistance or guidance to the affected families to help ensure they receive their rightful services and compensations from the employer companies and agencies.

The AoS mission also has a social justice dimension of standing up for the rights of seafarers.

Visiting and meeting sailors is a unique human and spiritual experience. Their faces, their smiles marked by daily hard work are a unique example. Meeting-dialogue-listening are words that translate into concrete faces and stories. The gratitude of these people becomes the strength and the reason to " get on board "! The sea , the fishing , the ships are the Gospel of today!

Alessandra Santopadre