Reviving the maritime welfare mission in Argentina

The many millions watching the 1997 Oscar-winning blockbuster Titanic will surely remember the passengers at the Sunday service just hours before the iceberg singing “… Oh hear us when we cry to thee/For those in peril on the sea” – that is exactly what the Mission to Seafarers being revived in this country is all about.

Perfect timing with the Strait of Hormuz now reminding everybody just how dependent on sea lanes we all are – almost 90 percent of all world trade travels by sea to supply us with food and fuel, kept moving by a global merchant marine of less than two million seafarers. These spend months or even years far removed from their families and friends with nobody giving a thought for their spiritual and psychological welfare, tested by the everyday challenges of life at sea when not in physical danger – except for the Mission to Seafarers with its WeCare motto.

Founded in 1856 (when its started life as the Seamen’s Mission, adapting to gender equality around the turn of this century), the Mission to Seafarers today has 120 centres and a presence in over 200 ports in 50 countries, attending merchant sailors in 74,000 cargo ships and tankers worldwide. An Anglican religious mission in its Victorian beginnings, today it sees itself more as a maritime welfare organisation covering all faiths well beyond any Christian creed.

All this was explained at a Thursday evening reception to relaunch the long dormant centre here at the British Embassy residence, especially an introductory video. Brief addresses by British cemetery director John Hunter and the host, British Ambassador David Cairns, were followed by lengthier addresses by two clergymen, local curate David George and visiting Mike Power, archdeacon of Chelmsford diocese, who concluded by asking the audience for three things in particular – a) to keep seafarers in mind, b) to donate and c) to help unblock access with port authorities, permitting chaplains to make their ship visits offering emotional support.

For now the revived Mission to Seafarers Argentina (Misión para Gente de Mar) will be operating out of St. John’s Cathedral, 25 de Mayo 282, with Marcelo Centurión designated as its chaplain. Email: Argentina@mtsmail.org, telephone: 5401-9534, website: missiontoseafarers.org. Donations may be made to Banco BBVA, CC$999-122889/7, Alias: MTS.ARGENTINA. The Mission enjoys the support of EXOLGAN container terminal.