Stella Maris chaplains minister to seafarers amid COVID-19 restrictions

By JANET JONES
Catholic News Service
and ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
MOBILE — COVID-19 has certainly impacted the Stella Maris ministries throughout the world, but it hasn't stopped the Archdiocese of Mobile's ministry from ministering to seafarers. 
Fr. Capeding celebrated Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on May 21 in commemoration of the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea, which was May 22. Stella Maris ministries throughout the U.S. celebrated this Mass in recognition of seafarers.
It's been a challenging year for the ministry and seafarers. People who work on the seas have been harder to reach at the exact time when they need ministers the most. And crew changes and shore leave were canceled for hundreds of thousands of people who work on the sea when the pandemic hit.
"In spite of this pandemic ... we were able to visit 400 ships and 200 seafarers were brought to Walmart (to purchase necessities)" said Fr. Lito Capeding, director of Stella Maris for the Archdiocese of Mobile. He has also been working with the University of South Alabama to bring vaccinations onboard for seafarers.
Fr. Capeding, pastor of Shrine of the Holy Cross Parish in Daphne and St. John Mission in Bromley has been a Stella Maris chaplain for 13 years. He is assisted by Deacon John Archer.
Fr. Capeding also participated in a virtual gathering May 20 for Stella Maris ministers. During the conference Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, bishop promoter for Stella Maris in the U.S., offered thanks to God for the chaplains and for their presence and those who support their presence. "I honor all the chaplains and the stories I hear. Their work is heroic," he said. "The movement of our Christian faith is a movement from isolation and fear to unity and hope."
During the Zoom gathering, themes that rose to the top of the discussion were making the U.S. bishops more aware of the workings of the Stella Maris ministry and getting more support so chaplains can focus on their ministry.
Chaplains and others who help minister to seafarers have been prohibited from going aboard in many cases.
"Chaplains need to be chaplains; they don't need to be administrators," said Deacon Paul Rosenblum, a regional coordinator for Stella Maris and port chaplain in the Diocese of Charleston, S.C.
Some good news is that many ports are now helping international seafarers get vaccinated and, hopefully, back to normal sooner.
Father Bruno Ciceri, international director of Stella Maris at the Vatican, gave a recorded talk to the participants, thanking Bishop Cahill for his work as well as the chaplains and all friends of Stella Maris.
He said Stella Maris, once called the Apostleship of the Sea, started in Scotland over 100 years ago and now serves all over the world, offering counseling and material and spiritual support.
In its centennial year, to reflect the universality of this mission, "Stella Maris" became the official name of this Catholic Church apostolate.
Stella Maris is a title for Our Lady used by seafarers. The idea of Mary our Mother being a guiding star for People of the Sea has led to special devotion to Our Lady, Star of the Sea for many.
Fr. Ciceri said that despite not being able to meet many in person over the past year, they have always been in the hearts of the maritime ministers. "Let's not be discouraged and be inspired by the original mission of the founders — to reveal Christ to them."
"Despite the challenges we all face, I see a ministry that will continue to be vibrant. ... And I can say confidently that I think that the next hundred years of Stella Maris will be as successful as the first hundred," Deacon Rosenblum said.
Sister Joanna Okereke, national director of Stella Maris for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, said the ministry, for her, calls to mind the words of St. Teresa of Avila that "Christ has no body but yours" and that Stella Maris partners must be the hands, feet and eyes of Christ for the seafarers.