Christmas 2007 Antwerp, Belgium
 In
Antwerp, ecumenical partners work together to give visiting
seafarers a happy Christmas
On Christmas Eve, 75 seafarers attended a Christmas
dinner at the International Seamen’s house. Transport to and
from their ships was organised by AOS and our ecumenical
partners in Antwerp: Mission to Seafarers, Sailors’ Society
and Deutsche Seemannsmission.
After the dinner, the four societies held the traditional
ecumenical Christmas celebration. All of the chaplains
participated in the service and the choir of the
International Protestant Church of Antwerp led the singing.
The celebration was attended by some 125 seafarers of
various nationalities including Chinese, Indian, Ukrainian
and Egyptian. Fr Leo van Doninck, AOS chaplain in Antwerp,
said
 It
was really the whole maritime world which was represented at
the foot of the Holy Child in the manger.
After the service, “Father Christmas” made a traditional
appearance and distributed Christmas presents to the
seafarers. Celebrations continued until 11pm when two big
buses returned the seafarers to their ships.
Unfortunately, not every seafarer who was in Antwerp over
the Christmas period was able to join the celebration.
Filipino AB Neil Maglagang from MV Bridge Arrow was in
hospital. In November he was involved in a serious accident
when a mooring cable snapped. He narrowly avoided losing his
leg which had to be operated on in Antwerp. Fr Leo and his
team visited the seafarer regularly bringing him Holy
Communion and newspapers and phone cards.
 Fr
Leo reports "He was very happy that we at the Seafarers'
Centre did not forget him" Seafarer Maglagang is now ready
to return to Manila for further treatment and recovery.
Photographs: (1) Fr Leo Ship visiting (2) Seafarers
celebrate by the Christmas tree (3) The ecumenical Christmas
celebration. |