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A New Port Chaplain Southampton, England
 Fr
Jack Padua is AOS port chaplain in Southampton on the south
coast of England.
Originally
from the Philippines, Fr Jack has been a diocesan priest in
Manila and a missionary in Thailand. He has lived and served
as a priest in the UK since 2005. In February 2008, Fr Jack
joined AOS GB.
Wave after wave, Ship after ship, Step after step
As one of the newest port chaplains of the Apostleship of
the Sea, I realize that one of my pressing challenges is to
make the port of Southampton a 'home away from home' for
seafarers tossed by waves at sea and by problems back home.
To accomplish this however, I need to move from ship to ship
and, in each ship, climb the ladder or ramp step upon step.
This way, I get to know the seafarers and their needs and,
in the process, respond to these needs of theirs. Thank God
for colleagues and volunteer ship visitors who accompany and
guide me, meeting this formidable challenge these past weeks
has been smooth.
My first month has indeed been like this: moving from
ship to ship and climbing ladders or ramps in each ship.
This task has been physically exhausting, in particular when
I needed to visit not just one but four or five ships in one
day. Surprisingly however, I always get energized –
recharged, as it were – when I see seafarers break into a
smile when they know that I am from the Stella Maris or the
Apostleship of the Sea. It is as if there is magic in the
words Apostleship of the Sea. It is as if Apostleship
of the Sea meant a long, lost friend that has suddenly and
pleasantly materialized before their very eyes. It is as if
Apostleship of the Sea meant home.
 Stella
Maris, it struck me, certainly means light the way of the
sea. Light to a person in darkness, as in an illuminating
experience. Light to a person weighed down by problems and
difficulties, as in an experience of liberation or of joy. I
am humbled by the thought therefore that even as I listen to
each person’s life story and concerns, I have become an
instrument of 'lightness'. Seafarers’ faces light up when
they hear me say I’m from Stella Maris.
And the surprise is not just theirs! The privilege has
also been mine. In one of my Masses onboard a ship, I met a
high school classmate from Iloilo, Philippines whom I have
not seen in decades. And, surprise of surprises, he was the
captain of that ship. Indeed, the celebration of the Lord’s
loving memorial has never been more meaningful as my friend
and I later shared each other’s stories to make up for the
years of separation.
Photographs: (1) Fr Jack with seafarers on the Madame
Butterfly which was in Southampton for repairs. (2) Fr Jack
with seafarers from the X-press Monte Rosa after he had said
Mass onboard on Holy Thursday. Holding the picture of the
Sacred Heart is the captain, Fr Jack's former schoolmate. |
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