SEA SUNDAY 2024 MESSAGE The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has designated the se […]
SEA SUNDAY 2024 MESSAGE
IN GRATITUDE TO THE SEAFARERS WHOSE WORK CONNECTS THE WORLD
FROM SEA TO SEA
On this Seafarers’ Day, we once again express our respect and gratitude to the seafarers whose work transporting goods to meet the daily needs of people connect our world divided by the seas.
The important work of seafarers supports our lives but it is built on the sacrifice of the seafarers. It is a job carried out under physically and mentally demanding conditions while being away from family and friends for long periods of time. We admire and thank them for their work as true servants who bind the world together so that we can become one family. And we as members of that one human family are invited to stand in solidarity with them.
A bulletin produced and published in various languages by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) gives us an idea of the kind of environment seafarers work and live in. In the latest issue, ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton speaks on behalf of all of us who lived through the Covid pandemic: “I thank all the seafarers and other transport workers who kept the world moving when so much of our lives came to a standstill.”
The ITF is a global federation of transport unions from eight industrial sections: seafarers, fisheries, inland navigation, dockers, railways, road transport, civil aviation and tourism. It represents approximately 18 million transport workers in approximately 735 member organizations in 153 countries, including approximately 1 million seafarers from 211 affiliated unions.
The ITF represents transport workers around the world and promotes their interests through solidarity and global campaigns. For the past 75 years, they have fought and developed campaigns against the “flag of convenience” system that allows shipowners to reduce operating costs by bypassing laws and regulations of the shipowner’s country. Instead, a vessel is registered in another country and operates under the flag of that country. ITF inspectors and unions work hard to ensure that seafarers receive decent wages, social services, family support and human rights protection. The latest ITF Seafarers Bulletin is available in various languages at https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/resources/materials/seafarers-bulletin-2023.
Let us pray with one heart in gratitude to God that tens of thousands of seafarers are fulfilling their mission by crossing the world’s oceans, uniting us as one family. May Mary, Mother of God and Star of the Sea, protect those who are separated from their loved ones.
Mary, Star of the Sea, protect seafarers.
May your protection and guidance be with them.
When they face violent waves, when they sail in the dark,
Light the way with your light, give them peace and courage.
Our hearts are with their families and loved ones as they pray.
At the completion of their labors on the seas
may they return home safely to joyful reunions with their families and friends.
May your blessing be with them. Amen.