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Sea Sunday Chennai, India
 Sea
Sunday Chennai, 2009
This year the Sea Sunday was celebrated at Chennai Port
at The Seafarers’ Club Chennai on 10-July-2009. The
Archbishop of Madras Mylapore, Most Rev.Dr. A.M. Chinnappa
DD, was the chief guest at the celebration. Mr. G.M.
Krishnamurthy General Secretary the Madras Port Trust
Employees Union, Mr. Jacob Goshi of CISF, Fr. Divyanathan
Treasure of Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore, Capt. V. Manoj
Joy President of the Stall Maris, Chairman of Seafarers Port
Welfare Association and Mr.John Bosco Dy.Sec.PRO of Chennai
Port Trust were the prominent dignitaries present on stage.
Other invitees the counselors at the seafarers’ Club, the
families at the Chennai Port Quarters, Seafarers and their
families from in and around the Chennai were present for the
function.
The function started with welcoming of the chief guest
Most Rev.Dr. A.M. Chinnappa DD, with a band by St. Rouqe
Mat.School boys. The Archbishop was then led to the Memorial
of the seafarers at the Seafarers’ Club premises and he laid
a wreath and saluted the unknown seafarers who died at sea.
The Chief Guest and other invitees gathered in the Seminar
hall for a short prayer service.
 The
Chief Guest Most. Rev.Dr.A.M.Chinnappa Archbishop of Madras
Mylapore lighted the traditional lamp the kuthuvilakku with
other dignitaries present. The prayer service was led by Sr.
Isabella and her group by reading from the gospel of St.
Mathew, followed by prayer of the faithful and a song asking
God’s blessing. Mr. Thomas, member of AoS welcomed the
guests and the invitees after which the guests were
felicitated. Most.Rev.Dr.A.M.Chinnappa address the gathering
and shared his views and thoughts about the life of the
seafarers at sea and the families left behind by him at
shore. He also highlighted about the piracy which is on the
rise on many shipping routes putting in danger not only the
valuable cargo of vessels but more importantly the life of
crew members who often suffer lasting psychological effects
and leave their families traumatized. Moreover the
criminalization of seafarers and the unfair treatment they
receive, in the event of maritime accidents, is yet another
hidden danger in their lives.
Fr.B.Anthony gave the vote of thanks and the chief guest
left to visit the port. He had lunch with the seafarers in
the ship M.V. Swaraj Deep and met the officials at the port
and crews on board the ship and ended the Sea Sunday
celebrations.
Fr. Anthony Baliswamy
Port Chaplain Apostleship of the Sea
Vice-Chairman SPWC. |
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