Basic Ecclesial Community- DMMA: A decade of service: The Apostleship of the Sea

Saturday, August 9, 2008

A decade of service: The Apostleship of the Sea - Stella Maris Seafarers Center

source: Tinig ng Marino

THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA-Stella Maris Seafarers Center is a very familiar
term to the world’s seamen of different nationalities and religions. In fact, most of the world’s seamen considered it as a home away from home.

The AOS-Stella Maris Seafarers Center is a network of 105 seafarer’s centers throughout the world’s seaports run and supervised by the Roman Catholic Church’s Apostleship of the Sea program under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of the Vatican.

The main objectives of the apostleship are:
— To provide for the pastoral care of seafarers, and
— To extend services for the spiritual, moral, physical and social needs of seafarers and all people of the sea.

Here in the Philippines, there was an active AOS presence in many ports throughout the country dating back to the 1950’s and 60’s. But all of these either “died’ a natural death or were closed down during the Martial Law years under President Marcos (1972 – 1986).

The re-birth of AOS activity began in June 1989 after the official visit of Msgr. John O’Shea in Manila, and consequently, under the directive of the Apostleship of the Sea International Secretariat in Vatican City, AOS Centers for the Ports of Manila, Davao and Cebu were established respectively. Since then, other Apostolate of the Sea Ministries was established at Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, La Union, and Maasin.

The official birth of the Apostleship of the Sea in Cebu took place in 1991 with the formal assignment of Father Roland Doriol, a Jesuit priest and former seaman, as chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea Ministry in Cebu by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal. As he conducted his apostolate for the next two years, the establishment of a Seafarer’s Center remained just a dream until January 1993 when the Apostleship of the Sea-Cebu Stella Maris Seafarers Center, through the support and cooperation of Cebu Ports Authority, was finally established inside the Cebu Ports Authority parking zone, it was initially housed in two donated container vans. Another container van was added in 1995 to allow the Center to expand its services.
Stella Maris Seafarers Center in Cebu was borne out of the conviction and inspiration that something should be done in Cebu regarding seafarer’s welfare. As the recognized hub of shipping activities in the country, Cebu is an ideal location for such apostolate, notwithstanding its strategic geographical location in international and inter-island shipping.

VISION AND MISSION

The vision of AOS Cebu-Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center is a pastoral maritime center with multi-sectoral involvement and commitment, offering holistic formation, supportive networks for seafarers, their families and the rest of the maritime community. Among its pastoral tasks or missions are:

— To offer welcome and friendship, uphold the dignity and rights,
— Provide network for information, communication,
— Assist maritime students, seafarers and families,
— Undertake projects to promote their welfare, and
— Provide shelter for rescuers and victims during emergency operation in case of maritime disasters.

Its objectives are:

— To offer liturgical services and spiritual guidance,
— Provide accommodation, recreation, legal assistance and other services,
— Provide psychological counseling,
— Offer value formation seminars,
— Offer livelihood and skills training to all the beneficiaries within the maritime sector,
— To serve as maritime resources and research center and information, and
— To initiate environmental protection programs and projects.

Todays the Center has established linkages and networks with the different government offices and agencies whose activities and functions involve the seafarers, such as the Cebu Port Authority, MARINA, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, the OWWA; with maritime schools and training centers in Cebu and throughout the country, as well as the academic and research schools such as the Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, and the University of San Agustin of Iloilo; shipping companies; with other national and international Seafarer’s Centers run by different ecumenical denominations as in the field of maritime pastoral care cooperation is very much necessary; and with other religious and sectoral organizations that deal with the seamen and their families such as the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines and the International Transport Federation.

Cebu, being the home of several maritime universities, colleges, and training centers that train a sizeable portion of Filipino youngsters who choose a maritime career, is also the home of hundreds of present and future seamen.

CENTER FOR SHARING

Aside from its regular apostolic activities, the Center takes part in the upgrading course on PADAMS for seamen, and discusses the spiritual aspects on drug and alcohol abuse on their family relations. Seminar-sessions, value formation program for maritime students, veteran seamen and seamen’s wives are also organized.
During these seminar sessions, veteran seamen speak out and share not only their experiences of life at sea but also their complicated and fragile relationships with those on land – their family life and problems. Seafarer’s wives also speak and share their experiences and sacrifices on problems of raising a seaman’s family and the hardships of maintaining family ties. These seminar sessions hope to serve as counterpoints to the unrealistic expectations that many maritime students have when they chose a maritime career on the basis of high economic prospects and returns – things that future seamen do not learn in classrooms. Also these seminar sessions will hopefully make them better prepared to embark on a life at sea.

When AOS-Cebu started its operation, apostolic activities were introduced and within a short span of time, these activities were expanded in order to be able to serve the needs of the seafarers’ families and relatives.

The Center is staffed by a number of maritime students and a number of volunteer seafarers’ wives and Sr. Nena P. Villalon of Living the Gospel Community.

MARITIME COMMUNITY’S HAVEN

Over the past decade, AOS Cebu Stella Maris Seafarers Center has served as a welcoming haven for seafarers, their families, maritime students, and other maritime sectors of Cebu.

It has also extended hospitality to seafarers and the rest of the maritime community and extended valuable services such as scholarship to selected maritime students, missionary leadership among seafarers’ and families; human and spiritual formation for maritime students; holding of seminars, meetings, workshops and conferences for local or international audiences; and promoting seafarers’ welfare in coordination with government and other concerned non-governmental agencies which were extended to everyone without distinction of the race, culture and religion.

The Center receives generous support from the Archdiocese of Cebu and financial donations from the French NGO CCFD. And most of all, it receives a sustaining support from Fr. Roland Doriol who unselfishly shares his pension and honorarium pay from maritime schools.

With the growth and development of the center’s services and programs, the present three container vans that house the Seafarers Center and its tenurial security at the Cebu Port Authority’s parking grounds have become a concern.

PERMANENT CENTER

A feasibility study was conducted from June to September of 2001 to assess the need to establish a bigger and permanent Seafarers Center. During the launching of its feasibility study on 28 September 2001, a memorandum of agreement was signed with Aboitiz Corporation for the purchase of the two lots located within the Port of Cebu as the future site of the permanent AOS – Stella Maris Seafarers Center of Cebu.

The acquisition and construction cost a sizeable amount and due to the sizeable amount of funding requirement, the AOS Cebu Ministry was forced to ask asked for donations, especially from international sources.

On November 2001, the AOS Cebu Ministry applied for the funding of its project with the International Transport Federation Seafarer’s Trust based in London, England, and in August 2002, the Board of Directors of the International Transport Federation Seafarer’s Trust approved the Center’s application for funding.
To be constructed on 3,833-square meter lot located near Pier 4, the proposed Seafarers Center will incorporate provision for lodging rooms available for rent to transient seamen and their families, a couple of function rooms for seminars and conventions, a canteen, a souvenir shop, an Internet cafe shop, and other services as possible for income-generation to ensure the Center’s continued existence.
Another feature of the Center is that its sports/recreational room and facilities will be free-of-charge for visiting seamen and their families.

Indeed, the next decade of the AOS Cebu Seafarers’ Center would be a period of growth and development for its targeted beneficiaries.

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Featured saint of the Month

Saint Martin of Tours (Latin: Sanctus Martinus Turonensis),

(Savaria, Pannonia {now Szombathely, Hungary}, 316 – November 8, 397 in Candes-Saint-Martin, Gaul {central France}; buried November 11, 397, Candes, Gaul) was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Roman Catholic saints. He is considered a spiritual bridge across Europe, given his association with both France and Hungary.

Martin was named after Mars, god of war, which Sulpicius Severus interpreted as "the brave, the courageous". His father was a senior officer (tribune) in the Imperial Horse Guard, a unit of the Roman army, and was later stationed at Ticinum, Cisalpine Gaul (now Pavia, Italy), where Martin grew up.

At the age of ten, he went to the church against the wishes of his parents and became a catechumen or candidate for baptism. At this time, Christianity had been made a legal religion (in 316), but it was by no means the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. It had many more adherents in the Eastern Empire, whence it had sprung, and was concentrated in cities, brought along the trade routes by converted Jews and Greeks (the term 'pagan' literally means 'country-dweller'). Christianity was still far from accepted amongst the higher echelons of society, and in the army the cult of Mithras would have been stronger. Although the conversion of the Emperor Constantine, and the subsequent programme of church-building, gave a greater impetus to the spread of the religion, it was still a minority faith. When Martin was fifteen, as the son of a veteran officer, he was required to join a cavalry ala himself and thus, around 334, was stationed at Ambianensium civitas or Samarobriva in Gaul (now Amiens, France). It is therefore likely that he joined the equites catafractarii Ambianenses, a unit of cataphracti listed in the Notitia Dignitatum.

Consecrated on 4 July, Martin brought to the accomplishment of the duties of his new ministry all the energy and the activity of which he had already given so many proofs. He did not, however, change his way of life: fleeing from the distractions of the large city, he settled himself in a small cell at a short distance from Tours, beyond the Loire. Some other hermits joined him there, and thus was gradually formed a new monastery, which surpassed that of Ligugé, as is indicated by the name, Marmoutier (Majus Monasterium), which it has kept to our own day. Thus, to an untiring zeal Martin added the greatest simplicity, and it is this which explains how his pastoral administration so admirably succeeded in sowing Christianity throughout Touraine. Nor was it a rare occurrence for him to leave his diocese when he thought that his appearance in some distant locality might produce some good. He even went several times to Trier, where the emperors had established their residence, to plead the interests of the Church or to ask pardon for some condemned person. His role in the matter of the Priscillianists and Ithacians was especially remarkable. Against Priscillian, the Spanish heresiarch, and his partisans, who had been justly condemned by the Council of Saragossa, furious charges were brought before Emperor Maximus by some orthodox bishops of Spain, led by Bishop Ithacius. Martin hurried to Trier, not indeed to defend the Gnostic and Manichaean doctrines of Priscillian, but to remove him from the secular jurisdiction of the emperor. Maximus at first acceded to his entreaty, but, when Martin had departed, yielded to the solicitations of Ithacius and ordered Priscillian and his followers to be beheaded. Deeply grieved, Martin refused to communicate with Ithacius. However, when he went again to Trier a little later to ask pardon for two rebels, Narses and Leucadius, Maximus would only promise it to him on condition that he would make his peace with Ithaeius. To save the lives of his clients, he consented to this reconciliation, but afterwards reproached himself bitterly for this act of weakness.

After a last visit to Rome, Martin went to Candes, one of the religious centres created by him in his diocese, when he was attacked by the malady which ended his life. Ordering himself to be carried into the presbytery of the church, he died there in 400 (according to some authorities, more probably in 397) at the age of about 81, evincing until the last that exemplary spirit of humility and mortification which he had ever shown. The Church of France has always considered Martin one of her greatest saints, and hagiographers have recorded a great number of miracles due to his intercession while he was living and after his death. His cult was very popular throughout the Middle Ages, a multitude of churches and chapels were dedicated to him, and a great number of places have been called by his name. His body, taken to Tours, was enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, above which his successors, St. Britius and St. Perpetuus, built first a simple chapel, and later a basilica (470). St. Euphronius, Bishop of Autun and a friend of St. Perpetuus, sent a sculptured tablet of marble to cover the tomb. A larger basilica was constructed in 1014 which was burned down in 1230 to be rebuilt soon on a still larger scale This sanctuary was the centre of great national pilgrimages until 1562, the fatal year when the Protestants sacked it from top to bottom, destroying the sepulchre and the relics of the great wonder-worker, the object of their hatred. The ill-fated collegiate church was restored by its canons, but a new and more terrible misfortune awaited it. The revolutionary hammer of 1793 was to subject it to a last devastation. It was entirely demolished with the exception of the two towers which are still standing and, so that its reconstruction might be impossible, the atheistic municipality caused two streets to be opened up on its site. In December, 1860, skilfully executed excavations located the site of St. Martin's tomb, of which some fragments were discovered. These precious remains are at present sheltered in a basilica built by Mgr Meignan, Archbishop of Tours which is unfortunately of very small dimensions and recalls only faintly the ancient and magnificent cloister of St. Martin. On 11 November each year the feast of St. Martin is solemnly celebrated in this church in the presence of a large number of the faithful of Tours and other cities and villages of the diocese.

source: WIKIPEDIA

New Advent

Living in exciting times with Pope Benedict XVI

By BOBIT S. AVILA

When the College of Cardinals asked German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to follow the footsteps of the great Pope John Paul II, he took on the name of Pope Benedict XVI and many Catholics praised his choice because it meant that there would be no dramatic changes in the 2,000-year-old Catholic Church… the very same church mentioned in Matthew 16:18, “And so I tell you Peter, you are a rock, upon this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.”

Indeed, under his watch, Pope Benedict XVI hasn’t changed anything, but instead clarified documents, especially those issued during the Second Vatican Council, which often has been misunderstood by many Catholics. A few days ago the Vatican issued a document as reported by Dr. Robert Moynihan.

“Vatican City – Just three days after Pope Benedict XVI published his motu proprio allowing wider use of traditional Latin Mass in the Catholic Church, the Vatican doctrinal office he used to head, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, today published a brief text on one of the most controversial passages, and words, from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), and in so doing reaffirmed the traditional Catholic teaching that the Roman Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ.

“In our view, this is part of a continuing series of decisions and initiatives, beginning with the liturgy motu proprio on July 7, 2007, to increase the sense of Roman Catholic identity in the face of many challenges posed by the modern world. The Pope’s intent, it seems clear, is to lessen confusion in the Church, and at the same time to reinforce the sense of Catholic identity over against a type of exaggerated ecumenism in which all Christian communities are increasingly, in practice, regarded as equally valid expressions of Christian faith. Why is the Congregation publishing this text at this time, so soon after the motu proprio? The answer is not clear.

“Perhaps the text, which has been in preparation for some time, was simply completed now, and so was published. But there is one scheduled encounter later this year, in Ravenna , Italy , in October, between Catholic and Orthodox theologians, where the identity of the Church and the role of the Pope in that identity will be at the center of the discussion. It is in a certain sense opportune, then, that this document appear now, before October.”

Indeed, we’re living in exciting times under Pope Benedict XVI. First he had that “misunderstanding” with the Muslims, about his lecture at the University of Regensburg when he quoted a 14th century dialogue between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleolgos and a Persian scholar to which he gave his regrets… not because he made that statement, but rather for being misunderstood. Actually, the Pope was correct in that lecture.

Then came that strange but quite relevant document coming from the Vatican on the “Ten Commandments of the Road,” mindful perhaps of the monumental traffic jams in Rome, just like here at home, which often leads to “road rage.” Then a week ago, traditionalists like me, were elated to learn that finally, the Vatican issued an Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio data of Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum, concerning the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970.

I recall that this was one of the irritants during the reign of Pope John Paul II when Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve of the Society of Pius X broke away from the mainstream church and ordained bishops without the authority of the Pope, for which they were excommunicated. But this document isn’t just merely an effort by the Vatican to reach out to the fallen members who followed Archbishop Lefebrve, but it is to clarify to all Catholics that the Second Vatican Council never abandoned the Latin rite.

Latin has always been the official language of the Catholic Church and I learned a lot of those Latin prayers when I used to serve Mass at the Redemptorist Church in the early 60s… which is why I still remember my Et introibo ad altare Dei and my Pater Noster. While I believe that the Second Vatican Council gave indigenous languages importance, which is why when we travel with our big bikes and go to Mass in Bacolod , it is quite interesting to hear Mass said in Ilonggo, Cebuano or Waray when we go to Tacloban.

But since the Catholic Church is universal, learning the Latin rite means that if we went to Mass in a foreign country, like in Japan or Bolivia , Filipino Catholics would not feel out of place. Of course, we can expect resistance on this new document from the Vatican even coming from priests who need to brush up on their very rusty Latin.

As if these issues were not controversial enough, suddenly the Vatican ’s Doctrinal Congregation reaffirmed that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church… even if elements of the truth can be found in separated churches and communities. This reaffirmation will certainly put a halt to the Vatican ’s effort to reconcile with all Christian churches through ecumenism.

Let me quote excerpts from this document:

“Touching an ecumenical sore point, the document said some of the separated Christian communities, such as Protestant communities, should not properly be called ‘Churches’ according to Catholic doctrine because of major differences over the ordained priesthood and the Eucharist.

“The Vatican apparently released the document last July 10 entitled ‘Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church,’ signed by US Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI for publication. The related discussion over the term ‘Churches’ surfaced publicly in 2000, when the doctrinal congregation then headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, said the term ‘sister Churches’ was being misused in ecumenical dialogue.”

Clearly, what’s happening at the Vatican is an organized effort to clarify certain doctrines concerning the Catholic faith. I’m sure that some of our readers would even be outraged at this news, but we’re not calling for a debate here… we’re merely giving a report of what’s going on at the Vatican which affects the lives of Catholics all over the world and within our own world in Cebu. Finally, let me point out clearly that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ ring true when he said that the “gates of the Netherworld shall not prevail against the Catholic Church.” Two thousand years later, the Catholic Church is the only institution that has survived the ravages of time.

Source: The Philippine Star

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Prayer of St. Francis- Philippine Madrigal Singers

World Youth Day 2008 (Sydney, Australia)

World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.

Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.

WYD08 will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted. It will attract over 125,000 international visitors - more than the 2000 Olympics.

WYD08 will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.

Through the WYD08 experience, young people from throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in faith, meet, and experience the love of God.

World Youth Day is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith around a particular theme. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Find out more about our major events and where you can see the Pope. [click here]

Featured Youth Organization

Compiled by: Aran Cabreros

CFC-Youth for Christ (CFC-YFC, known as CFC-Youth in the United States) is the world's largest Catholic youth organization. CFC-Youth for Christ is the young adult ministry of Couples for Christ (CFC). CFC-YFC is a Catholic evangelistic ministry to young people, with the vision to renew society in Christ through the youth. CFC-YFC invites young Christians of any denomination aged 12-21, from all sectors of society, regardless of distinction. CFC-YFC provides a venue for youth to respond to God's call to holiness in all aspects of their lives. In addition to helping strengthen Christian family life, CFC-YFC also shares the universal CFC mission of helping the poor and oppressed.

CFC-Youth for Christ was initially established in the Philippines in 1991 as a limited pilot program under CFC, which was then only an outreach to married couples. In 1993, CFC became an independent organization and created the CFC Family Ministries, CFC-YFC among them. Actively participating in CFC's work of evangelizing families, CFC-YFC also spearheaded the initial efforts of what would become Gawad Kalinga (GK), an organization that uses a Christian approach in solving poverty in the Philippines and other countries.

CFC-Youth for Christ has about 200,000 members, of which about 150,000 are based in the Philippines. CFC-YFC can be found in parishes, high schools, colleges and universities in over 160 countries and territories throughout the world.

here's their website:

YOUTH FOR CHRIST

YOUTH FOR CHRIST-Davao

source: Wikipedia.com

Prayer of St. Augustine to Seek God Continually

O Lord my God,I believe in you,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...

Insofar as I can,Insofar as you have given me the power,I have sought you.I became weary and I laboured.O Lord my God,

My sole hope,help me to believeAnd never to cease seeking you.Grant that I may always and ardentlySeek out your countenance.

Give me the strength to seek you,For you help me to find youAnd you have more and more given me the hope of finding you.Here I am before youWith my firmness and my infirmity.

Preserve the first and heal the second..Here I am before youWith my strength and my ignorance.Where you have opened the door to me,Welcome me at the entrance;

Where you have closed the door to me,Open to my cry;

Enable me to remember you,To understand you,And to love you.

Amen.

Pope wants Tridentine Masses in every parish, says Vatican official

By Ed West 9 May 2008

The pope wants the Latin Mass to be available in parishes "even if it is not specifically asked for, or requested", according to a senior Vatican official.Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, said priests should make the extraordinary form available so that "everyone may have access to this treasure of the ancient liturgy of the Church".

In the latest sign that Pope Benedict XVI wants to make the Mass more widely available, the Cardinal made the comments in a Latin Mass DVD put together by the traditionalist group the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in cooperation with Catholic television station EWTN.

The cardinal added that the Pope wants the old rite to become normal in parishes, so that "young communities can also become familiar with this rite".

The Ecclesia Dei Commission is tasked with the implementation of Pope Benedict's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum on the 1962 Latin Mass.It has been claimed that priests may not celebrate a traditional Mass publicly in their parish unless they have first received a petition from a "stable group".

Some bishops have tried to limit the public celebrations of the Tridentine Mass by imposing a minimum number of people in such a group.But Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos's announcement suggests that priests should use the 1962 Missale Romanum in their parishes without such a request.

Copies of the instructional video on the 1962 Latin Mass will be available for free to any priest or seminarian who orders it.It includes over three hours of footage on two DVD discs, giving a step-by-step explanation and demonstration of the Mass in the extraordinary form.

The production includes multiple appendices with instructions on the general principles of gesture and movement, as well as commonly encountered variations in the elements of the Mass.Also featured is a real-time demonstration of the Mass, which can be viewed from multiple angles on demand.

A spiritual commentary is included, as well as an explanation from an FSSP priest on the liturgical_principles of the extraordinary form. The cardinal provides an introduction for the DVD in which he explains that Pope Benedict XVI hoped to foster a "spiritual and theological richness".

Welcome

Ito po ay blogsite ng Basic Ecclesial Community ng DMMA (Davao Merchant Marine Academy) of Southern Philippines, isang Katolikong organisasyon na naglalayong iparating sa bawat miyembro nito ang mga activities ng aming grupo. Ang grupong ito ay sangay ng CCMD (Catholic Campus Ministry of Davao) na naglalayon ding ipalaganap ang Katolisismo sa bawat Unibersidad at Kolehiyong hindi Katoliko at magkaroon ng ekyumenismo sa mga hindi Katolikong mga organisasyon. Ngunit hindi natin maiiwasan ang argumento sa mga doktrina na nakapaloob sa Iglesyang kasapi kami kaya isa rin sa aming layunin ay mapanindigan ang paniniwalang Katoliko sa Lungsod ng Dabaw lalo't lalo na sa aming institusyon.