Shepherds of Sailors: Challenges of Christian Life at Sea

The Apostleship ofthe Sea (Stella Maris) is under the Patronage of Our Lady Star of the Sea. If you know a seafarer, you can contact the US branch at Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America.

From Aleteia

By Patricia Navas González

A Spanish deacon in charge of the Apostolate of the Sea in Spain talks about the unique challenges faced by believers who work in the maritime industry.

People who work at sea live their faith in a peculiar way. The time ships spend in ports is becoming shorter and shorter, and docks are increasingly further away from cities. The spiritual accompaniment of seafarers requires collaboration and synergy, as well as hope and faith in the face of change.

Deacon Ricardo Rodríguez-Martos is the director of Stella Maris (“Star of the Sea,” the apostolate of the sea) for all of Spain, and also works in this ministry on the ground in Barcelona. He has been involved in this outreach since 1983, often involved in ecumenical efforts in this field as well. He shares some revealing insights in an interview with Aleteia.

Providing more than spiritual assistance

Aleteia: Can you identify specific ways of living the Christian faith that are typical of seafarers?

Deacon Ricardo Rodríguez-Martos: Seafarers are a reflection of the society they come from. Those who are originally believers or belong to a Christian family will normally try to live that faith.

At sea, it’s not possible to live the faith as people traditionally do, by regularly attending church, celebrating Mass, etc. For a seafarer, it’s much more complicated.

But seafarers who are believers, of course, usually try to find time for prayer on board.

And for them, the Stella Maris centers (of the Catholic Apostolate of the Sea in ports around the world) are places where, in addition to receiving general assistance, they can find spiritual support.

Our services are fundamentally on a human level because we reach out to all seafarers, wherever they come from, whatever they believe, and whatever their culture and language. We try to offer what each person needs for their well-being.

In the case of Christians, we can offer them everything from explanatory brochures on the different liturgical seasons of the year and books to the possibility of celebrating Mass on board.

Mass on a ship?

Deacon Rodríguez-Martos: Yes, we sometimes organize it, and it cannot be improvised. It’s difficult with cargo ships because they’re only in Barcelona for a few hours. But it's easier with cruise ships because they have a fixed itinerary, so we know the days they’ll be in port.

So when a priest comes, I accompany him as a deacon, and maybe another volunteer from Stella Maris joins us. And we celebrate Mass in a space on the ship.

Is there a saint of the sea?

Is there a saint to whom Christians linked to the maritime sector feel closest?

Deacon Rodríguez-Martos: Stella Maris — Star of the Sea — is one of the expressions used to refer to the Virgin Mary. She’s truly an important point of reference in the faith of seafarers.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is specific to Spanish sailors. The fishermen here are very devoted to her. St. Peter is also a point of reference. And then it depends on each person's devotion.

Unique challenges

What common problems do seafarers face and what solutions are proposed?

Deacon Rodríguez-Martos: These are complex issues that cannot be summarized in a few words. But we can first take a very brief look at the situation of merchant mariners — on cargo ships or cruise ships — today.

The first characteristic is that ships spend very little time in port, often only a few hours. And the second is that the docks are increasingly further away from the city. This makes it very difficult for seafarers to go out, shop, entertain themselves, or seek the personal assistance they need while they are in port.

We have to be at the docks, talk to the crews, and be on the ships. Through contact, needs come to the fore, and we try to help in whatever way we can.

It is clear that a Stella Maris center, or its counterpart of another Christian denomination, cannot operate in isolation. Rather, [they should work] as part of a network with other similar centers in other places and in coordination with the entire port community.

Seafarers must have adequate human assistance, and this benefits both seafarers and maritime traffic.

We’ve also discussed new technologies, including artificial intelligence. These are tools that allow us to reach places we can’t reach in other ways. Perhaps they’re still in their infancy, but we can’t ignore them. We need to have whatever allows us to have as much contact as possible with the daily reality of seafarers.

[Another issue is] the increase in the presence of women in the maritime sector.

Many work as seafarers and are gradually finding their place. A traditionally male-dominated world initially poses certain problems when a minority of women have to adapt to it. But little by little, progress is being made.

The immensity of the sea reminds us of God

Having spent 43 years in the maritime ministry, can you tell us what the sea says about God?

Deacon Rodríguez-Martos: I would rather say: what does looking at the sea suggest to men and women? The sea is immensity. The sea is a mixture of immense force.

And on the other hand, the sea is, as a song says, like a perfumed and beautiful woman who is loved and feared.

Every human being, even those who aren’t believers, when faced with immensity, or on a starry night on the high seas, must feel in communion with a reality that surpasses them.

And for those who believe in God, it’s a communion with God. It’s to be in communion with his creation, and to be in communion with creation is to be in communion with God.

Pictured: The statue of Our Lady Star of the Sea venerated in the church of Sliema, Malta