Sea Sunday/Stella Maris Collection –this Sunday

Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. Sea Sunday is celebrated on Sunday, July 12th. It is when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has written a message from the Vatican for this occasion. He says: Seafarers, fishers and maritime workers should be recognised not only for the essential work they do, but as people with their own hopes, relationships and dreams.

In his message, Beyond Cargo and Commerce: The Human Face of the Sea, Cardinal Czerny, reflects on the sacrifice and contribution of those who work across seas and inland waterways. He reflects on the growing uncertainty faced by many maritime workers, particularly where conflict and insecurity can leave crews isolated on board and further separated from their loved ones. “People need more than efficient systems or distant words,” the Cardinal writes. “They need a presence. They need to know that they are remembered, welcomed, heard and loved.”

The Cardinal also reflects on the quieter pressures of modern maritime life. Reduced crew sizes, shorter shore leave and demanding schedules can leave little space for rest or meaningful human connection, even in an age of constant digital communication. He says the sea should remind us of our shared responsibility towards one another. “Oceans do not divide people; they connect them,” he writes, describing those who work at sea as bridges between nations, cultures, religions and economies. The message also highlights the close link between care for the sea and care for the people whose lives depend on it. Cardinal Czerny calls for greater responsibility towards the marine environment, alongside continued efforts to protect the dignity and safety of maritime workers. The full text of Cardinal Michael Czerny’s Sea Sunday message can be read here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/06/24/2606242g.html

For Sea Sunday on July 12th, Stella Maris invites parishes and communities to pray for seafarers, fishers and their families, and to support our work providing practical and pastoral support in ports across the world.

In addition to the collection, you are also able to donate using a debit or credit card at the Electronic Donation Station at the back of St. Teilo’s or at this address – https://donate.mydona.com/st-teilo-our-lady-of-lourdes

This collection is vital to enable Stella Maris, formerly the Apostleship of the Sea, to continue its important work, so please give generously. Thank you.