Our Lady & St. Wilfrid, Blyth and St. Cuthbert, Cowpen Roman Catholic Churches

The sea is vital to us all. 90% of world trade is carried by sea giving work to more than a million seafarers. 41 million people live from fishing.

Life at sea means separation from family and community. Globalisation can mean fierce competition, low wages and harsh working conditions. AOS works in solidarity with all those whose lives depend on the sea offerring them welfare, hospitality and spiritual support.

AOS today

Today, globalisation dominates the lives of People of the Sea. Meeting the challenges of the new globalised world was the theme of the latest International Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea (Rio de Janeiro 2002). The fierce competition of global commerce leads to exploitation of workers among the world’s poorest communities.

But there is a positive side to world developments. New technology gives us better global communications. New encounters between people of different cultures provide opportunities to learn and grow. Globalisation can and must be given a human face. This is the task which the international network of the Apostleship of the Sea gladly accepts as we remember the words of Our Lord

Do not be afraid, I am with you always.

Matthew 28, 20