AOS: Who We Are

In 1920, Catholic port ministry was conceived and developed in Glasgow, Scotland, by Rev. Donald Macintosh, Arthur Gannon, and Peter Anson, who were concerned about the lack of witness the Church was showing aboard ship.

Two years later they approached Pope Pius XI, who bestowed his blessings on the ministry and encouraged the Apostleship of the Sea to extend its mission to the oceans and shores of all the hemispheres.

In every major country, a bishop serves as the AOS episcopal promoter, overseeing the work of the national director.It is the director's responsibility to coordinate the individual chaplain's efforts and to assist them in developing their ministries.

Additionally, the national director's office serves as a communication center which produces a newsletter, (Catholic Maritime News in the United States), establishes and maintains rapport with organizations protecting the seafarers' interests, and appeals to the diocese for port chaplains.

Each country hosts an annual conference. Tying all these national conferences together is the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Because the Apostleship of the Sea's "parishioners" move around the world, it is necessary that their pastors be in touch with one another. The World Congress held every five years, mandated by the Apostolatus Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) office, ensures this connection between countries and disseminates the pontifical council's policies.

The Maritime Mission

The mission of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) remains today as clear as a sailing ship's mast silhouetted against the rising sun: to reach out to seafarers, fishers, their families, all who work or travel on the high seas and port personnel. Seafarers are often away from their home parishes, and some seafarers have no parish setting to help them maintain lasting ties with their faith and families. A network of AOS port offices and Catholic chaplains establishes a parish that accommodates a seafarer's unique lifestyle and needs.

Around the world, the AOS assists seafarers to meet their basic needs: a genuine welcome, spiritual renewal, a safe haven while in port, a safe work environment, a just contract, communications with loved ones back home and a few hours of recreation.

Challenges to Mission

The fulfillment of a seafarer’s needs is challenged today by technological advances in the maritime industry, namely containerization, specialty ships such as car carriers, immense crude oil tankers, and cruise ships with their extremely large multi-national crews. Seafarers working aboard today’s ships no longer count their time in port in days but in hours.

The Chaplain: Servant at Sea

Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland- Bishop Promoter

Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, DD is the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Savannah, GA.  He was appointed AOS Bishop Promoter in February 2008. There is an active AOS Chaplaincy in his diocese. The Port of Savannah has become the fourth busiest and fastest growing container terminal in the United States (GPA, 2007).

National Director

Sr. Myrna Tordillo - AOS National Director of the United States

Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS is a Scalabrinian Sister. She was appointed National Director of the Apostleship of the Sea in January 2007. She has extensive experience in pastoral care programs for AOS and migrants in the Philippines, USA, and Mexico.

For More Information

Apostleship of the Sea
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
Phone: 202-541-3035
Email: aos@usccb.org