APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA LAUNCHES WEB SITE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 1999 (VIS) - The new Internet site www.stellamaris.net was inaugurated yesterday in Venice during the European Meeting of the National Directors of Apostolatus Maris (Apostleship of the Sea). The meeting was presided over by Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which has a sector dedicated to this apostolate.

"Apostolatus Maris," says a communique about the web site, "is an international network of national associations or organizations from 91 countries on all continents, which share a common aim: that of promoting the spiritual, social and material well-being of seafarers on merchant and fishing vessels, as well as their families, without any discrimination of culture, race or religion."

The communique adds that "Europe has about 50 ports, which are visited by an average 300,000 seafarers every year. Where the Apostleship of the Sea is present with its chaplains and hundreds of volunteers, seafarers can expect to receive a warm welcome during their short stay in port."

The objective of the new web site, says the press release "is to make a world too often unknown and isolated - that of the people of the sea - more visible and 'connected'."

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