Day of the People of the Sea: Catholic Church serves more than 40,000 in Spain

The Catholic Church celebrates every July 16, the feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Day of the People of the Sea, who are under the patronage of this Marian dedication. In Spain, the apostolate Stella Maris (Star of the Seas) serves more than 40,000 sailors a year.

This work is possible thanks to its 15 delegations spread across the nearly 8,000 kilometers of coastline that the country has, in which 115 pastoral agents collaborate who, in accordance with the 2022 Memory of the Catholic Church in Spainvisited more than 4,500 ships.

The bishop promoter of this apostolate, Mons. Luis Quinteiro Fiuza, currently apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tui-Vigo, shares in his annual message that “Mary calls us to care for the seas and for its people” in a context that she defines as “one of serious environmental problems and a persistent lack of consideration for the needs and rights of seafarers.”

Thus, he emphasizes that “according to the UN, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, killing marine life and threatening the human food chain.”

Supported by the well-known environmental concern of Pope Francis, Bishop Quinteiro also considers that it is “of utmost urgency that we all be aware that we must take care of the seas, so important for our economy and our subsistence in general.”

To this we must add the need for attention at various levels that the people of the sea need “who with their work make possible both fishing and the transportation of most of the merchandise that we consume around the world.”

For this reason, the promoter bishop states that “Stella Maris Their presence in all ports and places on the coast is proposed as an urgent task” and calls “to all priests, deacons, religious men and women, men and women, volunteers to make an effort to care for them humanly and spiritually.” Furthermore, he invites us to demand “that the well-being of seafarers in ports and on board ships be increased.”

What is apostolate Stella Maris

The apostolate Stella Mariswhich develops the pastoral care of the sea in Spain, “works for the well-being of seafarers, sailors and fishermen around the world, seeking to offer a home away from home to all those who arrive at our ports,” as defined in a website.

This apostolic work is carried out in different countries and has its origin in the work carried out by the Jesuit P. Egger in the port of Glasgow at the beginning of the 20th century.

In Spain it has 10 delegations, the last of which was inaugurated in beginning of July in the Port of Palma de Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands. The others are located in Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, Castellón, Almería, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela on the Spanish peninsular coasts and in Las Palmas and Tenerife within the Canary archipelago.

In March 2022 this apostolate will be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.