Seafarers' Center
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Seafarers' Center 50th Anniversary
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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.
When: Saturday, May 26th at 11 AM
Where: Seawall at Civic Center in Lake Charles, LA
The National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea is Tuesday, May 22. In the Diocese of Lake Charles, the blessing of the fleet and prayer service, will be Saturday, May 26, at the seawall behind the Lake Charles Civic Center beginning at 11 a.m., according to Deacon Patrick Lapoint, director of the Seafarers Center at the Port of Lake Charles, one of 53 maritime ports in 26 states and 48 dioceses where the Apostleship of the Sea is present. Father Rommel Tolentino, pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, serves as the chaplain for the Seafarers Center.
The day is observed in conjunction with National Maritime Day in the United States of America, which has been celebrated since 1933 to honor those who serve as merchant mariners and to recognize the benefits of the maritime industry.
Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), is a worldwide Catholic maritime ministry that engages with seafarers, fishers, their families, port personnel and all who work or travel on the high seas, regardless of race, color or creed. The maritime ministry shows the Church's care and concern to seafarers who are often away from home for many months because of the nature of their work and lifestyle. A network of AOS port offices and Catholic chaplains provide spiritual and practical assistance that accommodate a seafarer's unique lifestyle and needs.
Priest chaplains, deacons, religious and lay people extend hospitality by providing a "home away from home" for seafarers. AOS has 10 Stella Maris centers, and over 100 chaplains and pastoral teams, including priests, religious, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers providing many services including: Mass, communion, confession and other sacraments, assistance to seafarers in distress, ship visits, transportation to visit business centers, a place to relax while on the port, computers with internet connection at the center, cell phones and phone cards as well as facilitating seafarers' access to services that others provide.
In the message addressed to chaplains, volunteers, friends and supporters of the Apostleship of the Sea, on Sea Sunday July 9, 2017, Peter Cardinal Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Integral Human Development Service, said, "In our daily lives, we are surrounded by and use many objects and products that at some stage of their journey towards us have been transported on vessels. It is difficult for us to imagine behind these objects the faces of the many seafarers who have secured a smooth sailing for the vessel to deliver these commodities to the port safely. We are invited to recognize and express our gratitude to this force of more than 1.5 million seafarers, who with their hard work and sacrifices are making our life more comfortable by transporting, between nations and across the seven seas, almost 90 per cent of the goods."
During World War II, some 6,000 American seafarers and more than 700 U.S. merchant ships fell to enemy action. No branch of the Armed Forces, except the Marine Corps, suffered a higher casualty rate.
Merchant mariners also played a vital role in the Korean Conflict, especially in the rescue of 14,000 Korean civilians by the SS Meredith Victory. During the Vietnam War, ships crewed by civilian seamen carried 95 percent of the supplies used by U.S. Armed Forces.
For generations, merchant marines and commercial sailors have assisted in the defense of the Nation. More than 5,000 merchant mariners supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom by serving aboard 157 ships moving essential supplies to the troops.
Since 1775, the United States Merchant Marine has served the U.S., helping America become a great maritime power. National Maritime Day pays tribute to these heroes who answered the call to serve when the Nation needed them most.
Today, merchant mariners continue to protect the US homeland, including their support of American troops doing hazardous duty overseas.
Seafarers' Christmas at Sea
Most of us are blessed with family and friends during the holidays, but Christmas can be a lonely time for seafarers. Every year during the Christmas season, the Stella Maris Seafarers' Center spreads the love of Christ through our Christmas at Sea program.
Our 2017 goal is to provide bags for 100% of the ships. Often this is the only gift they receive as they travel the seas for 6-10 months out of the year transporting 95% of the goods that we use every day.
Items needed are:
Full-size bath soap, combs, deodorant, disposable razors, handkerchiefs, hard candy, knit caps, lotion, pens/pencils, playing cards, prayer cards, full-size shampoo, shaving cream, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wash cloths, work gloves.
Monetary donations are always welcome to help purchase items needed for each bag. A box will be provided in the Narthex to drop off your items.
Please contact Deacon Patrick Lapoint if you have any questions.
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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