Stella Maris - Apostleship of the Sea

10/06/2026

Last Saturday, 220 Stella Maris pilgrims gathered on Holy Island for a special day of prayer and reflection, organised by our Port Chaplains Steve Willows and Peter Barrigan.

Those attending included our CEO and National Director Tim Hill, Senior Port Chaplains Anne McLaren and Nick O’Neill, members of our Board of Trustees and supporters.

For some pilgrims, the day began with the traditional walk across the causeway before Celtic prayers on the Green outside St Mary the Virgin Church, followed by Mass presided over by Bishop Paul Mason, Stella Maris Bishop Promoter and Trustee.

Holy Island has long been a place of pilgrimage and prayer, and its peaceful setting made it a fitting place to gather and keep in mind all seafarers, fishers and their families, especially those who spend long periods away from home.

Thank you to everyone who travelled to take part, pray together and support Stella Maris. Your presence helped make this a meaningful and memorable Holy Island pilgrimage.

05/06/2026

This week’s roundup shares some of the ways our chaplains and colleagues have continued to support seafarers, fishers and port communities across the UK.

From supporting a seafarer on his journey home to joining community events, meeting Church leaders and spending time with crews on board, each story reflects the importance of being present for those whose lives and work are connected to the sea.

Click on the photos below to read their stories.

03/06/2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating the incredible contribution of Stella Maris volunteers across the UK.

One of those volunteers is Phil Nolan, who has been visiting ships with us in Hull for nearly 20 years, offering seafarers a friendly face, a listening ear and practical support when they arrive in port.

In our latest Q&A, Phil reflects on what volunteering as a ship visitor has taught him. He shares how life at sea has changed for those on board, with ships often spending less time in port, more work taking place in the evenings, and seafarers often tired and working to tight schedules.

For Phil, ship visiting is about meeting seafarers with respect and patience. As he explains: “We are not there to get anything from them or ask anything of them. We are there to say, ‘Welcome. Thank you for what you do. Can we help you in any way?’”

Phil also speaks about the friendship he formed with a Ukrainian seafarer recovering from a serious injury, and how they remain friends to this day. It is one of many reflections he shares on the impact volunteering has had on his own life, and why he believes more people should recognise the vital role seafarers play in the world around us.

Read Phil’s full Q&A here: https://stellamaris.org.uk/volunteers-week-qa-phil-nolan-on-the-value-of-ship-visiting/

01/06/2026

This Saturday, Stella Maris pilgrims will gather on Holy Island for a special day coordinated by our Port Chaplain Steve Willows.

The day will include Prayers on the Green, followed by Mass at St Mary the Virgin Church, led by Bishop Paul Mason, Stella Maris Bishop Promoter and one of our Trustees.

Holy Island has long been a place of pilgrimage and reflection, closely associated with St Aidan and St Cuthbert. St Aidan founded the monastery on Lindisfarne in the 7th century, while St Cuthbert later became one of the island’s most loved figures, remembered for his life of prayer and healing.

As pilgrims come together in this historic setting, we keep in mind all seafarers and fishers who spend long periods away from home and rely on the care and support offered through Stella Maris.

Please keep everyone taking part in your prayers.

31/05/2026

In this week’s roundup, our chaplains share stories from ports around the UK, including a warm welcome on board in Portland, a seafarer in Plymouth looking forward to returning home, and an open conversation with a captain in Fowey about the responsibility of leading a crew.

We also include an important update on how our chaplaincy support continues for a seafarer recovering far from home in Northern Ireland.

Click on the photos below to read their stories.

29/05/2026

Choosing the right lifejacket can save a life, but it also needs to be comfortable and practical enough to wear while working at sea.

STAY AFLOAT: Choosing the Right Lifejacket for Fishing is a new short film exploring the different types of lifejackets available to fishers, and the key factors that can affect whether they are worn consistently on deck.

The film looks at comfort, fit, movement, buoyancy, durability, maintenance and safety features such as reflective strips and personal locator beacons. It also draws on research carried out with fishers across the country, including workshops in Newlyn and Grimsby, helping to better understand the barriers to wearing lifejackets at sea.

Produced as part of the FISH SAFE safety series, established by The Seafarers’ Charity, the film forms part of wider efforts to improve safety across the UK fishing industry.

Stella Maris is proud to part-fund the film as part of our ongoing work with fishers, their families and industry partners to improve safety, welfare and wellbeing across the fishing sector.

Watch the short film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd8dIesS8rQ

STAY AFLOAT – Choosing the Right Lifejacket for Fishing explores ho...

27/05/2026

Last week, our Port Chaplain Chris Reynolds visited the vessel Sky Time at Garston Docks in Liverpool with Sr Gemma Simmonds CJ, who taught Chris at Heythrop College years ago and is now a Bye-Fellow at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge.

The crew enjoyed welcoming Chris and Sr Gemma on board, speaking with them about their favourite ports, including Montrose and Odessa, as well as their families and life at sea.

It was a meaningful visit, with plenty of time for conversation, and a reminder of how much seafarers value time spent with those who come on board to listen and offer support.

Chris was also grateful for the chance to reconnect with Sr Gemma, and we thank her for her time and support for the work of Stella Maris.

22/05/2026

Over the last couple of months in Northern Ireland, our chaplain Brian Rances has been supporting Larry, a Filipino seafarer who has been quite unwell while far from home.

Larry was first admitted to hospital after suffering severe breathlessness. Since then, he has been through further treatments, and has had to remain away from home while doctors continue to assess whether he is fit to travel back to the Philippines.

After being discharged from hospital, Larry has been staying locally while waiting for further medical tests. During this time, he has been feeling isolated after being away from his crew and family for so long, so Brian has continued to keep in touch, spending time with him and helping him feel less alone during a difficult period.

Brian has accompanied Larry on walks around town, taken him to the parish church to pray, met the parish priest with him and enjoyed regular cups of coffee together to help him unwind. These visits have also helped Larry get to know people in the local community during his stay.

Larry recently underwent a biopsy and is now continuing medication while awaiting another test to determine whether he is safe and fit to go home.

Please keep Larry in your prayers as he continues his recovery.

20/05/2026

This evening at 7pm, Stella Maris will take part in a special online Rosary for Peace alongside CAFOD, Missio and Aid to the Church in Need UK.

Together, we will pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for Peace in our world, with each organisation leading a reflection on one of the mysteries.

It will be a chance to come together in prayer and reflect on the work being carried out in support of communities around the world.

Whether you are a supporter, parishioner or simply someone who believes in the power of prayer, you are invited to join us.

There is still time to register here: 000881ee-a357-4630-a027-2dabe7f55e43@08f4ac77-938f-49be-8f24-000e77255cce?fbclid=IwY2xjawR6hP5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFhWmQ1OXVpN21QcUMxejhTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmedkUtrn9-kUqX5wYcefO5863pzgafb2rwR5NDvAaye5ZidhTZdVKSiDP8m_aem_3szxFDsjJvsUvmV5WDowTg" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/000881ee-a357-4630-a027-2dabe7f55e43@08f4ac77-938f-49be-8f24-000e77255cce?fbclid=IwY2xjawR6hP5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFhWmQ1OXVpN21QcUMxejhTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmedkUtrn9-kUqX5wYcefO5863pzgafb2rwR5NDvAaye5ZidhTZdVKSiDP8m_aem_3szxFDsjJvsUvmV5WDowTg

19/05/2026

Tomorrow evening at 7pm, Stella Maris will join CAFOD, Missio and Aid to the Church in Need UK for a special online Rosary for Peace.

The event brings Catholic charities together to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for Peace in our world.

Each participating charity will lead a reflection on one of the mysteries, offering a chance to pray together and reflect on the work being carried out in support of communities around the world.

Whether you are a supporter, parishioner or simply someone who believes in the power of prayer, you are invited to join us.

Please register here: 000881ee-a357-4630-a027-2dabe7f55e43@08f4ac77-938f-49be-8f24-000e77255cce" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/000881ee-a357-4630-a027-2dabe7f55e43@08f4ac77-938f-49be-8f24-000e77255cce