The Apostolate of Seafarers in Davao continues to weather the storms

The Apostleship of the Sea is an agency of the Catholic Church that provides pastoral care to all Seafarers regardless of nationality, belief or race. It is also sometimes known as Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) and is present in all major ports around the world. Its patron is the Virgin Mary as Our Lady, Star of the Sea.

In the Port of Davao AOS Office was once located at Mary, Star of the Sea Center which was established in a rented building fronting the Sasa Wharf entrance in June 1991 at the very time when Mt. Pinatubo was exploding. The Port Chaplain assigned for AOS Port of Davao was Fr. Jack Walsh, MM.

Mary, Star of the Sea Center is the Archdiocesan implementation of the worldwide Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) which is guided by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People. However, effective January 1, 2017, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development took responsibility for the work of the pontifical council through its Migrants and Refugees Section.

Mary, Star of the Sea Center is for the sea based worker which includes those who find employment in the domestic and foreign maritime service, fishermen and their families and those employed aboard the luxury cruise lines around the world.

According to OWWA, as of June 2019, the Philippines is still the number one supplier of Seafarers to the maritime service of the world. There may be about 56,000 who are illegally recruited and working on the sea called tramp ships under the miserable circumstances with low wages and maximum dangers.

In October 19-25, 1997 the 20th AOS World Congress was held in Davao City at the Apo View Hotel. Mary, Star of the Sea Seafarers Family Association (MaSSSFA) which is under the umbrella of AOS-Davao made a significant contribution towards the success of such huge event with the seafarers wife members raising funds to welcome visitors and help them with their transportation and lodging concerns. One of the great outcomes of this event was the granting of the building of the new Center now called Stella Maris Seafarers Center in Davao City located at Km. 10, Sasa, Davao City in front of the Phil. Ports Authority Regional Office. The Center was a home away from home for the seafarers with complete facilities where the seafarers and their families who come to meet them in Davao can safely stay at a very low rate.

Then Fr. Jack was retired due to old age and went back to the US. It was also at this time the Maryknoll Migrant Apostolate withdrew its support to the Stella Maris Seafarer Center. For security purposes, the Center was then turned-over to the Archdiocese of Davao and was subsequently managed by different priests/chaplains appointed by the Bishop, until it came to a point when the Center was practically abandoned and left uncared for.

Despite such discouraging situation of practical abandonment of the Center, MaSSSFA, without the Center and AOS continued its ministry to the seafarers and families. This time the Stella Maris Seafarer Center was padlocked. The apostolic work of the Center was continued by MaSSSFA. The plight of the Center is sad beyond words, and questions from the seafarers (who contribute to the ITF Trust Fund for this project) continuously roll over in our minds.

To be updated with the maritime affairs, MaSSSFA worked and affiliated itself with the different government agencies and NGOs. It enjoys a social partnership with DOLE representing the seafarers family. It has a representative and consultative privileges with NEDA, OWWA, MARINA and other NGOs that cater to the migrant workers. It maintains a connection with AOS East South East Asia Regional Office to assist families and seafarers in distress. MaSSSFA also links with the maritime schools of Davao and include them as sponsors of the 9-days novena and mass to Mary, Star of the Sea, the Patroness of the Seafarers. The icon of our Lady is brought to the schools and venerated by the staff and students of the maritime department. Two maritime schools have a great devotion to the Lady and hold an overnight vigil in her honor. The feast of Mary, Star of the Sea is celebrated on the last Saturday of August.

Presently, the Port of Davao continues to enjoy a very strong economic growth especially in the banana industry, which in turn largely contributes to the boom of the shipping industry in the city. We have about nine (9) ports many of which cater but not limited to the banana plantation and for fruit growing companies.

Last August 31, 2019 on the feast of Mary, Star of the Sea, MaSSSFA celebrated its 25th silver anniversary and within this silver year it will be working on the institutionalizing the devotion to Mary, Star of the Sea to all maritime schools and maritime departments in Davao City, to realize the ministry for the retired seafarers, which has been a recent clamor and to put up an office where seafarers and families can once again experience Christian hospitality.

MaSSSFA in the absence of an AOS Chaplain is presently under the pastoral guidance of Rev. Fr. Leonardo A. Dublan, Jr., Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. It has continued to weather the storms of existence, has remained resilient through its ups and downs… its secret: the undying and unwavering devotion of its faithful members to Mary, Star of the Sea. (Bing Micayabas / Lucil Quindoy)