Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santos (Agenzia Fides) – The first International Meeting of the Scalabrinian Missionaries (Missionaries of St. Charles), who work for the Apostolate of the Sea in different countries, will take place October 6 to 10 in Santos (State of Sao Pablo). About 40 missionaries will take part in this meeting to discuss the theme: “Scalabrinian Missionaries and the Sea: Returning to the Origins of the Charism.” According to information received by Fides, during the Meeting, there will be a meeting with representatives of entities related with the environment of the sea and they will exchange information and experiences on how to spread the AOS in the 10 ports where Scalabrinians operate.
Among the participants are: Brother Bruno Ciceri, CS, representing the AOS at the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People (PCMI), Rui Pedro, CS, organizer of the event and responsible for Pastoral Care of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, and Fr. Sergio Geremia, Superior General of the Missionaries of St. Charles. They will join representatives from South Africa, Taiwan, Italy, Argentina, Peru, Philippines, and Uruguay.
In 2010, the Apostleship of the Sea (widely known as the “Mission Stella Maris”), connected to the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People, now celebrates its 90th anniversary, and is present in port cities on every continent. The Scalabrinian Missionaries are responsible for management and pastoral care in 10 ports, including three in Brazil: in Santos (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and Rio Grande (RS).
The United Nations (UN) has launched 2010 as the Year of the Sea, to offer the opportunity to become better acquainted with the work of over a half million itinerant workers, assigned to cargo ships, container ships, tankers, vessels carrying passengers, etc. Their work leads them to deal daily with all sorts of adversity, many of which are highly dangerous, such as accidents at sea or in ports, bad weather, pirate attacks, in addition to the stress of living on board a ship, leaving behind family members for long periods of time, often inadequate wages, etc. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/05/2010)
