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Seafarers' Center
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The Apostleship of the Sea is the Church among the People of the Sea. It is the apostolic work of the Catholic Church caring for seafarers, fishers and their families. We offer pastoral care to those in need; solidarity with the oppressed; welcome and hospitality to those on the move; and spiritual sustenance to the poor, enabling seafarers and fishers to be the light of Christ for each other.
As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples at the last supper to demonstrate, even at the institution of the Eucharist, that the Eucharistic community is committed to hospitality and service, this apostolic work of the Church cares for the people of the sea: for the pastoral, social, and material welfare of all seafarers and fishers regardless of colour, race or creed.
For the past ten years, Stella Maris, has been under the direction of Deacon Patrick Lapoint. Stella Maris is Latin for “Star of the Sea.” The Lake Charles Seafarers’ Center serves in the tradition of the papal Apostleship of the Sea, the official international Catholic ministry to people on the water. About 60 port ministries in North America operate as Stella Maris or as A.O.S. centers, which are not formally connected to a diocese.
The facility offers a recreation room, library, computers, phone cards and van rides to buy food. The experience allows the weary seafarers to feel grass under their feet, relieve boredom, have some fun and most of all, and contact their loved ones. The ships’ crew can play air hockey, table tennis and billiards. They are served coffee and cookies and a priest celebrates Catholic Mass every Thursday.
While maritime labor practices and technology have changed, the port chaplains still fill a critical role in providing humanitarian aid to ship crews who sometimes face loneliness, cruelty and exploitation.
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Contact Us
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Reverend Patrick Lapointdeacon.lapointyahoo.comDeacon
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Lake Charles Seafarers' Center
Port of Lake Charles
150 Marine Street, Box #10
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
Ph: (337) 436-1315
Fax: (337) 436-1401
