Saint John Seafarers Mission

06/17/2026

Looking forward to Port Days 2026. Thank you to Port Saint John for including the Saint John Seafarers Mission in this year's event. If you are part of Port Days, please stop by our table at the tradeshow. We would love to connect with you to talk a bit about seafarers and how you can help to support them.

06/16/2026

Some more delicious sweets provided by a kind donor. We give sweets like this to seafarers who visit our building at 92 Tilley Lane and to seafarers when we are visiting their ships at one of the port's terminals.

If you would like to make sweets like these for seafarers, please reach out to us at [email protected] or (506) 635-1731 to arrange a drop off time. You can also visit our website at https://www.sjseafarers.com/donate to donate to our Snack Rack fund.

06/05/2026

On Friday, June 5/26 I boarded CMA CGM KAILAS to visit the seafarers. Their time in port is short on this stop so no one could go outside (shore leave). Five nationalities were represented in the crew and officers…all welcoming and cordial. Three times this week I have been told how difficult the life of a seafarer is. I got to leave the ship and go home to my wife at the end of the day. Many of the seafarers are away from home for up to 11 months. A few hours of shore leave would be a welcomed thing. In spite of its challenges I found a group of cheerful Filipinos who wanted a photo with me.

06/03/2026

Today, June 3/26 I visited the SFL Maui currently docked at Port Saint John. I had lunch with a few, chatted with as many as possible and asked several about them having time off the ship. Shore leave (going outside is the seafarer’s term) is a cherished and much needed right of the crew. Here is the Captain, 3rd mate and another seafarer descending the gangway for a trip to town or the shopping mall.

05/26/2026

Looking forward to seeing you at these great events.

05/19/2026

Seafarers from the PL GERMANY descending the gangway for some much needed shore leave on Tuesday, May 19.

05/15/2026

In visiting sefarers in their environment aboard ship I enjoy an array of experiences. Recently I met with the Master and several others as they were concerned for a crew member who had not returned from shore leave (no photo)…on another I met with the bosun and fitter for a lengthy conversation, learning that the fitter (blue shirt to my left) was headed home next morning after 11 months at sea. One ship on its maiden call to Saint John with a Turkish crew served me a most flavourful meal (obvious photo) and we enjoyed banter and laughter in the mess. On another visit I introduced the cook (with the chef’s hat), steward (head wrap) bosun (orange coveralls) and another seafarer (x on black) to Timbits. I find it intriguing how a small gift such as doughnut holes can warm the atmosphere and open a conversation. Oh, by-the-way, I had the honour of praying with the fitter, sharing in his excitement and nervousness as he prepared to fly home next day.

04/30/2026