Church-goers across the world will join this Sunday 10th July rejoicing in the role of seafarers, giving thanks for their hard work, and raising funds for the Mission to Seafarers in the annual Sea Sunday celebration.
The Mission to Seafarers’ theme for Sea Sunday is piracy, and the campaign against it. Already an invisible and often marginalised workforce, many of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers now face being taken hostage and tortured, as well as the age old hazards of loneliness and the dangers of a stormy ocean life.
“Piracy is an ever-present threat for seafarers, as they bring some 90% of the goods we use to our homes and high streets. They risk being kidnapped, tortured and even murdered by the ruthlesse sea-gangs prowling the Indian Ocean trade routes. Too often our chaplains find themselves providing trauma counselling for released hostages, or helping families desperately concerned about what is a terrible ordeal for all involved. This year, the UN’s International Maritime Organisation is challenging the world to respond to this growing terror,” said the Mission’s Jane Spence. “We are reflecting this by focusing our Sea Sunday material on frontline MtS work with victims of piracy.”