Stella Maris is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church. In 1922, Pope Pius XI approved the first constitution of the movement, known as Apostleship of the Sea. Stella Maris now operates in more than 300 ports across the world.

The Employee and Volunteer of the Year Awards are an annual event to recognise the good works of CSSWA members, employees and volunteers, who witness the four pillars of Catholic Social Teaching in their respective agencies.

With more than 28,000 merchant ships visit Australian ports each year, crewed by some 300,000 seafarers, an appeal being launched this Sunday across parishes aims to raise awareness of the needs of seafarers – Perth Deacon and former Director of the Stella Maris Seafarers Centre has shared his experience with Journey Radio Editor Max Norden.

Following the invitation for expressions of interest from Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB for men who are who are willing to discern whether the Permanent Diaconate may be God’s will for them, wife of Perth Permanent Deacon Patrick Moore speaks about her experience.

Stella Maris Australia, a Catholic agency that provides spiritual and practical support to those working at sea, has joined an international coalition calling for better treatment of seafarers during the pandemic.

This year, 2020, the year of COVID-19 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Church’s ministry to seafarers through Stella Maris and unsurprisingly, it is the effects of the pandemic that have occupied Stella Maris centres in ports across Australia and around the world.