Last week, Deacon Philip Yuson travelled to Vancouver to take part in a national conference for seafarer ministries. With suicide prevention as the central theme, the gathering brought together chaplains and volunteers from across the country to discuss how best to support those who live and work at sea.
Seafarers often spend long months away from family, navigating isolation, demanding work, and mental health challenges. It’s a reality that Bishop Gary Gordon witnessed firsthand when he celebrated Mass aboard a ship in 2017—an experience that inspired him to appoint a chaplain for those who dock at Vancouver Island.
Deacon Yuson, who leads the Diocese of Victoria’s Apostleship of the Sea ministry, shared a few moving moments from the conference. "Eight of us were invited for dinner on board the Norwegian Bliss," he said. "There were two Imams with us and the rest were volunteers and their wives. I was able to bless the servers in the restaurant."
As the ministry expands to Saturdays, local volunteers Conrad and Alfred recently brought five crew members from the Norwegian Encore downtown for a warm meal and a peaceful visit to St. Andrew’s Cathedral—small acts of hospitality that can mean the world to someone far from home.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” said Deacon Yuson, “which is why we need the wisdom of the Lord to deal with this.” He invites all of us to join in prayer:
Please say a Hail Mary for these intentions:
— Wisdom to navigate through the expansion of our ministry
— Protection of the crew of the ships that come to Vancouver Island
As the Apostleship of the Sea continues to grow, so too does its mission: to be a steady presence of faith, compassion, and hope for seafarers who bring the world to our shores.
Read Dcn. Yuson's full post about the diocese's Apostleship of the Sea ministry here: https://dcnphilip.wordpress.com/2025/05/20/2025-05-12-to-202-05-17-extremely-busy-week/
