New Services in Goa, India
 Fitness
centre and counselling services for seafarers and their
families
AOS India is delighted to announce the inauguration of
the Next Voyage Fitness Centre and Stella Maris Counselling
Services in Goa. The new facilities have been established
for local seafarers and their families. Fr Xavier Pinto,
national director of AOS India, said
Seafarers' wives and children are part of our vast
seafaring family nurtured pastorally as people on the move.
Next Voyage Fitness Centre
The Next Voyage Fitness Centre is located in the compound
of the Redemptorist Fathers in Goa. It is intended for
seafarers who may be resting at home before their next
voyage, hence the name. Although they should enjoy relaxing
with their families, as Fr Xavier says, they need to keep
fit because a fit ship requires fit seafarers. The centre
will be managed by health and fitness experts. Priority will
be given to seafarers and their families but the centre will
also be open to the public.
The Next Voyage Fitness Centre has been established by
the Apostleship of the Sea with the invaluable help of
donors, friends and supporters.
Stella Maris Counselling Services
 Stella
Maris Counselling Services are offered exclusively to
seafarers and their families in Goa. Services are organised
by various parishes and institutions with the main centres
at the Family Service Centre and Laity Centre of the
Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. Seafarers and their families
seeking help will be directed to appropriate parishes where
they will receive assistance. Those already participating
include:
- St Jerome's Church, Mapuca, North Goa
- St Francis Xavier's Church, Murmagao, Port of Goa
- St Mary's Church, Chinchinim, South Goa, where there
is a special Mass on the last Tuesday of every month for
seafarers and their families.
It is hoped that other points will be added in the future
to serve the many seafarers and their families in the Santo
Estevam area.
Inauguration
At the beginning of March 2008, Archbishop Felipe Neri
Ferrao of Goa presided at a special ceremony to bless and
dedicate the Next Voyage Fitness Centre and Stella Maris
Counselling Services. In his speech, the Archbishop said
that fitness should be used in the service of the community.
In today's stressful world, it is vital to be available to
those who need counselling, to sit with them and to help
them.
Also present at the ceremony were the Chancellor of the
Archdiocese Fr Nelson Sequeira; port chaplain of Mogmugao
Harbour Fr William Moniz s.a.c.; the teams of chaplains and
counsellors of Goa; many Redemptorists and members of other
religious orders; and volunteers, friends and supporters of
AOS in Goa. A message from Cardinal Martino, president of
the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People was
read. Greetings were received from AOS in Poland, Barcelona,
Australia and New Zealand.
Contacts:
Next Voyage Fitness & Stella Maris Counselling Services
Redemptorist Compound 876,
Alto Porvorim Goa 403521
Tel/Fax +91 832 2410149
nextvoyageGOA at gmail.com
Counselling for seafarers and families enquiries
Archdiocesan Centre for the Lay Apostolate: 2232496
Archdiocesan Family Service Centre: 2224140, 2431639
Photographs (1) The Next Voyage Fitness Centre (2) The
Archbishop and Fr Pinto lighting the lamp |