News & Stories
Today is the feast of St.Patricks and we offered also the 2nd week mass of the lent at the Mariners House chapel.
The AoS USA conference this year is very interesting. On the first day I had briefly explained about our AoS activities in Canada. Today's sessions were of panel presentation about fishing industry, safety on board and certification of maritime ministers.
This is the latest news received from the Vicar General of St.John's Diocese about Johnson Fernando. Please pray for his speedy recovery.
This afternoon I visited Mr. Fernando
at the Health Sciences Centre.
He was medically airlifted from his cargo ship after falling ill .
He is in Room 5 North A 274,
a private room. He has issues of low blood pressure caused by loss of blood due to ulcers. Mr. Fernando is a very devout Catholic and he received Holy Communion and was so glad to receive Jesus. He told me he has spent his life at sea . This trip was very rough and sailors could not sleep with the rough seas . He was well treated by his captain and medical people but intends to go back to India upon release from hospital, as he spends 9 months on the sea away from his family, and he has decided he will not go to sea anymore .
I gave him a gift card for Tim Horton's and I informed the other chaplains about him. I hope to visit him again tomorrow.
Fr. Critch
The success story of an Inian Seafarer who was airlifted from GENOA EXPRESS ship was reached out at the Hospital in St.John's Canada.
Johnson Fernando is a Seafarer from South India and for a long time he has come on Montreal liners and a frequent visitor to Seafarer center at Montreal. Being a faithful Catholic and a Tamil he always enjoyed talking in our mother tongue. Even last week when they were in Montreal I had met him. But on Sunday I got the following text message from David our Associate chaplain from Christian Reform church.
Hello father Andrew,
There is a seafarer from Genoa Express who came to Montreal for many years. He was taken from the ship and is now in the hospital in St. John's Newfoundland. Do you have any contact there to visit him? David requested me to contact George for more details.
When I contacted George he only told me that it was Johnson Fernando. Hear I should say that God helps in an extraordinary way to those who love him and for those who wish to help others. I was having my tea on Sunday evening and thinking of Bishop Thomas Dowd our AoS Bishop Promoter will be the best person to approach for help. You will not believe he was knocked the kitchen door to open it for him. When I opened it I told him that I was thinking of him and he showed up.
Since the chaplaincy at St.John's was vacant and the Archbishop Bishop is also New this will be a God given opportunity to reach out to the Archbishop Bishop said Bishop Dowd. He also told me to email him the details. So I emailed him the details and attend the photo of Johnson. On Monday morning Bishop Dowd had contacted the Archbishop of St.John's and the Archbishop Bishop has emailed that his Vicar general was able to meet Johnson at the Hospital and give Holy communion. I was so happy to hear this message while I was on my way to AoS USA conference to Ft Lauderdale.
Here below I am copying the email from the priest who visited Johnson.
Your Grace:
This afternoon I visited Mr. Fernando
at the Health Sciences Centre.
He was medically airlifted from his cargo ship after falling ill .
He is in Room 5 North A 274,
a private room. He has issues of low blood pressure caused by loss of blood due to ulcers. Mr. Fernando is a very devout Catholic and he received Holy Communion and was so glad to receive Jesus. He told me he has spent his life at sea . This trip was very rough and sailors could not sleep with the rough seas . He was well treated by his captain and medical people but intends to go back to India upon release from hospital, as he spends 9 months on the sea away from his family, and he has decided he will not go to sea anymore .
I gave him a gift card for Tim Horton's and I informed the other chaplains about him. I hope to visit him again tomorrow.
Fr. Critch
The AoS GB is doing a great job in printing out Stella Maris Magazine and sending to their collaborators to be distributed to the Seafarers. The good part of it and difference from others is that this magazine in addition to the stories and news of the Seafarers the Sunday readings and reflections are printed. I am sure for the Catholic Seafarers certainly it will be very handy for the enrichment their spiritual life. They could use it as a tool either in their cabin or as a group for their liturgical services. This will encourage them to gather together on board while sailing on Sundays atleast to reflect together the Word of God. Well done AoS GB. Your 25 copies of Stella Maris Magazine for the month of March received and distributed. The Seafarers are very thankful to you for your care for their spiritual need.