Stella Maris’ Albany mission gets upgrade

Seafarers docking in Albany, often after months at sea, will enjoy upgraded facilities at the local Stella Maris Seafarers Mission after work on their centre was completed last month.

The centre has received a much needed internal and external paint job with the assistance of the Albany Port Authority while continuing its mission of providing transport, local shopping assistance, companionship and the celebration of Mass.
The centre began offering wireless internet to visitors three months ago when they realised that many docking Chinese seafarers had their own laptops but no convenient way of contacting their loved ones.
Director Marylou Lomas told The Record that, apart from helping seafarers with practical tasks, the Mission is happy to provide a place where they can “enjoy and relax in friendly surroundings after many months away from their families.”
Most recently, they assisted a Filipino sailor who found out his wife in Manila was dying, helping him to contact his family and getting him quickly to the airport.
Ms Lomas and her husband David had been helping seafarers for over 17 years at the Mission when David, the Mission’s then-director, passed away earlier this year.
She was offered and accepted the post in March, continuing the good work with the Mission’s five volunteers.