TIM eMagazine Vol.2 Issue 3
The crew requested Mass to be said and for specific areas of the ship to be blessed, including some cabins and the spot where the body
was found. Fr Colum said the atmosphere seemed to change after Mass and there was a sense of relief among the crew.
Crew distraught after
captain's death
A
The container ship, Santa Bettina,
was a week into its voyage when
the captain was found dead on
board, leaving its crew members
distraught and traumatised
postleship of the Sea
(AoS) has responded
to the faith and
pastoral needs of a
group of seafarers
after their captain
was found dead on
their ship during a
voyage from New
York, United States to
Tilbury, Essex.
The container ship, Santa Bettina, was
a week into its voyage when the captain
was found dead on board, leaving its crew
members distraught and traumatised.
The crew requested Mass to be said and for specific areas of the ship to be blessed,
AoS port chaplain Fr Colum Kelly went on
including some cabins and the spot where the body was found. Fr Colum said the atmo-
board the ship when it docked in Tilbury on May
sphere seemed to change after Mass and there was a sense of relief among the crew.
21 to say Mass for the crew and to bless them.
“I spent time listening to the crew and of the
stress that they had been feeling during the voyage. It emerged the death
trying to bring some consolation. It was a terrible time for the seafarers,
took place one week into the voyage. It was the first time the crew had sailed but at the end of the day there was a sense of joy in the midst of the grief,
with that captain so they knew very little about him,” said Fr Colum.
stress and bewilderment,” he said.
“His body was laid in his sealed cabin for the remainder of the voyage.
A new Polish captain then came to join the ship. He had sailed with
Particularly distressed was the young seafarer who had discovered the
this crew previously and was obviously well liked.
body. It was the first time he had seen a corpse,” he added.
Fr Colum added, “This tragic incident is a powerful example of AoS’
The crew requested Mass to be said and for specific areas of the ship
ministry of going to where the hurt is… the Church in outreach to those
to be blessed, including some cabins and the spot where the body was
on the margins, where the Holy Father encourages us to go.”
found. Fr Colum said the atmosphere seemed to change after Mass and
there was a sense of relief among the crew.
“We did what we were able to do for the crew; talking to them and
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