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Christmas can be a challenging time for seafarers. They miss spending this special time of the year with their family.
Many struggle to cope with homesickness. Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas when you’re thousands of miles away from home and can’t be with the people you love.
But seafarers arriving on ships at the ports of Felixstowe and Ipswich in the Diocese are never forgotten, thanks to Stella Maris regional port chaplain Julian Wong and the Stella Maris volunteer ship visitors.
Thanks to the generosity of many parishes, groups, business and well-wishers in East Anglia, Julian receives hundreds of donated items which he and his team pack to make Christmas presents and parcels which they distribute to seafarers during their ship visits over the Christmas period.
Spiritual succour
Apart from handing out the gifts which are always gratefully and delightfully received by the crews of ships, Julian will also ensure that he offers them the chance to practice their faith over the Christmas period, by taking them to church or organising Mass onboard.
Last year, he arranged for Fr Jude Belnas, from St Mary’s church, Ipswich, to celebrate Christmas Mass onboard a ship which was attended by six of the seven crew members. The seafarers were extremely grateful for being able to celebrate Mass at such a significant time of year.
On Christmas Eve last year, Julian also distributed Holy Communion to seafarers from another ship, who sadly could not attend Mass due to their busy work schedules. However, he was able to take the ship’s chief officer to midnight Mass.
Seafarers will be far from their families and friends on Christmas Day, but the gifts that Stella Maris’ chaplains and ship visitors bring them and the pastoral and spiritual they provide brings seafarers joy, making sure that they are not forgotten.
Please say a prayer for seafarers and fishers this Christmas. And if you can help please visit https://stellamaris.org.uk/christmas/
