Gibraltar
 At
the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, where the
Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa, Father
Charles Bruzon and his team provide pastoral care to
visiting seafarers in the busy port of Gibraltar.
Some 80,000 ships pass through the Strait of Gibraltar
every year. The Port of Gibraltar is the largest centre for
bunkering (i.e refuelling of ships) on the Mediterranean
Sea. Ship repair facilities and other maritime services are
also available.
Gibraltar is a popular tourist destination on the
itinerary of numerous cruise ships. During the busy season,
an average of eight cruise ships a week visit the port.
According to the Port of Gibraltar website, there were 202
ship calls by cruise ships in 2006. The Port Minister of the
Gibraltar Government predicts an increase in the future.
AOS Gibraltar
 AOS
Gibraltar was established in 2004. Since then Fr Charles has
formed a team of volunteers who assist him in bringing
pastoral care to those who work onboard ship. There are
currently eight trained ship visitors. The parishioners of
St Bernard’s Church support the work of AOS in numerous ways
including knitting woolly hats. Volunteers also distribute
warm clothing, faith articles and AOS literature among
seafarers.
Fr Charles and his team work in co-operation with our
ICMA partners in the region, Mission to Seafarers. AOS
Gibraltar has been instrumental in establishing a Port
Welfare Committee. The committee is working to provide
telephones in the Commercial Port and Cammell Laird Shipyard
to enable visiting seafarers to contact their families.
Photographs: (1) Fr Charles Bruzon and crew members
after Mass on the cruise ship Arcadia. (2) Fr Charles with
crew members from the cruise ship Sea Cloud after an open
air Mass on deck in April 2006. Fr Charles hopes to say Mass
again for the crew when the ship returns to Gibraltar in
2007. |