National Maritime Day, Madagascar
 Thanks
to the work of AOS in promoting World Maritime Day, the
Malagasy government has launched a complementary National
Maritime Day. Félix Randrianasoavina, National Director of
AOS Madagascar, sends us this report.
For some twelve years, AOS Madagascar was responsible for
organising national celebrations for World Maritime Day.
Last year, the Malagasy government became involved in some
of the ceremonies. Consequently, this year the central
administration launched National Maritime Day on 5 October
2007.
The main celebrations were held in the port of Diégo-Suarez.
An official ceremony was also organised in the port of
Toamasina. There, the Secretary General of the Province
congratulated the Apostleship of the Sea for its hard work
in informing public opinion about the importance of World
Maritime Day.
AOS also organised its own celebrations for National
Maritime Day. The whole AOS Madagascar “family” gathered
together on Sunday 7 October. They watched a presentation
about the AOS world congress in Gdynia which included
prayers. There was also discussion about the role of the
Apostleship of the Sea in the world.
 Then
the AOS management team gave a lunch in honour of their
guests from the various maritime clubs. Lunch was in the
form of a picnic which participants shared together at the
AOS headquarters. After lunch, the “family” said the Rosary
together. The Fr Stanislaw Kazek, AOS port chaplain in
Toamasina, celebrated the Eucharist attended by Br Wenceslas
of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The Eucharistic Celebration was also the occasion of the
blessing of epaulettes. These had been bought in Gdynia
during the AOS world conference at the request of the
Malagasy Merchant Navy. The epaulettes were presented to ten
Merchant Navy officers who are members of the Apostleship of
the Sea.
Félix ends his report with a prayer: Let us give
thanks to the Lord for the blessings he has given us, now
and always, in the promotion of our maritime ministry in
Madagascar. |