Progreso, Mexico
.jpg) Fr
Lorenzo Mex and his team give pastoral care to visiting
seafarers and to the local community
AOS always seeks to work in partnership with local,
national and international organisations. AOS Mexico is a
strategic partner in the Fundación para el Bienestar de la
Gente del Mar, or "Fubigemar", the Foundation for the
Welfare of the People of the Sea, an initiative supported by
the International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare. There are
two aspects to this work: welfare services to visiting
seafarers and social projects among the local community.
Fr Lorenzo Mex is the national director of AOS Mexico and
chaplain to the port of Progreso. Situated on the northern
shore of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico,
Progreso is a centre for container ships. In recent years,
large cruise ships have started to arrive. In addition,
there is significant fishing industry around Progreso.
Services to seafarers include an active ship visiting
programme. Pastoral workers Antonio Buenfil, Dolores Molina
and Sister Raquele Marando visit seafarers onboard their
ships in the area of Puerto de Altura. Free transport is
provided to the Stella Maris Centre nearby.
The
Stella Maris Centre in Progreso is housed in a former
mansion. The building was donated to the archdiocese by the
family which owned it. The government of the state of
Yucatan has invested in the centre. AOS Mexico has also
formed partnerships with public and private organisations
which have made donations to the centre.
 At the Stella Maris Centre, Fr Lorenzo and his team offer
a safe and welcoming environment. Visiting seafarers can use
telephone and Internet facilities to contact their families.
There are rooms for relaxation and games and a basketball
pitch where visitors can take exercise.
In order to provide services to the local community, AOS
has formed a partnership with the Marist University of
Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. The university has
a programme called "learning through service". Students on
the programme work as volunteers in social projects
co-ordinated by AOS. These include courses in safety and
survival at sea; legal assistance for seafarers; literacy
and numeracy classes for children of fishing communities;
and environmental education.
One of these projects is "Vivienda Digna". The aim is to
provide a decent standard of accommodation for people living
in reduced circumstances through construction of new homes
and repair of existing ones. This work takes place in
Progreso and in the villages around the port of Chuburna
where people live mainly from fishing.
Recently the port authority of Progreso paid tribute to
the work of AOS on its website saying
The Stella Maris Centre of Progreso is contributing to
building a more humane, fair and just society, a goal which
it believes everyone can reach.
Photographs: (1) Fr Lorenzo Mex (2) The Stella Maris
Centre in Progreso |