Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Gdynia (Agenzia Fides) - From Gdynia, in Poland participants at the 22nd World Conference of the Apostleship of the Sea launch a message of solidarity with the People of the Sea.
“We are aware of and we denounce with you - the message reads - the existence of numerous inhuman situations which continue to persist in the world: human beings subject to grave injustices, unspeakable suffering and inhuman deaths. We also know however that many of you live authentic values of solidarity and courage and that, on ships, friendly relationships exist between persons of different culture and religion. We also know that new technology helps you to communicate better with your families and among yourselves and with public opinion … For this and many other reasons we wish to show you solidarity and be with you as witnesses of hope. The Church knows she is that frail ship on which the sails hope which is not only a word, an idea or a dream. As Christians we believe in fact the hope is a Person who has a name and a face, Jesus the Saviour, Hope of the world”.
Jesus makes us messengers of his joy and teaches us to love God and our Father and to adore Him as our only God, he sends us to the least fortunate of people to serve them as witnesses of his love. “In these three ways, inspired by His Spirit, He leads is to promote a maritime humanism vivified by Christian hope. Our hope is not only to reach an objective, but to live a truly human life, as God wished for us because we are created in his image”.
Through Christian hope the Lord asks us to “di be His Word which lives and resounds through us in the maritime world”; Christ asks us to “adore the Creator, to respect creation, to turn away from false idols, to celebrate God who made us for himself and impressed on our hearts the seal of the infinite, that God who in the Eucharist gives us his real presence and in the Liturgy, powerful signs of hope, joy and new vigour ”; Christ asks us to “serve the people of the sea wherever we are, in public instances, those in positions of responsibility, Christian communities so they will not turn away from the sea but rather show concern for those who live on the sea and of the sea”.
The message concludes thanking all pastoral workers who in different ways contribute to the vitality of the Apostleship of the Sea and confirm commitment to “promote that maritime humanism which, thanks to the Word of God, the Liturgy and Service, especially for the poorest people, render us witnesses of hope in solidarity with the people of the sea”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/7/2007 - righe 31, parole 467)
