Regional Port Chaplain

Job description

Stella Maris' Regional Port Chaplains are priests, nuns, permanent deacons and lay chaplains. A belief in our mission to seafarers and fishers working within a globalised industry and excellent interpersonal skills are essential. A practicing member of the Catholic Church is highly desirable. Experience in chaplaincy is desirable. The job description includes the following roles and rresponsibilities:
1. To meet the welfare and pastoral needs of all seafarers and fishers equally according to their needs and wishes. To be an advocate on their behalf, upholding the dignity of each. Through regular and frequent ship visiting, to understand the working and living conditions of the seafarer and fishers, and be able to work for justice and for the well-being of all crew members without distinction.

2. To address the communications needs of seafarers, providing transport, news, and access to telephone and internet facilities.

3. To address the welfare needs of seafarers and fishers, including support with money transfers, hospitality, and crisis support, e.g. abandonment, injury and death, detainment, bereavement, advice and access to medical care.

4. To meet the ecclesial, spiritual, and sacramental needs of Catholic seafarers and fishers; to facilitate the religious and spiritual needs of others and to be a pastor to all, sharing one’s faith as appropriate.

5. To participate in SM conferences, ongoing formation and other professional courses as required.

6. To supporting seafarer centre functioning.

7. To recruit, train, develop and retain a SM ship visiting volunteer team.

8. To represent SM on the local Port Welfare Committee(s), to include attending such meetings and submitting reports.

9. To liaise and maintain good working relationships with all port stakeholders, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the International Transport Workers' Federation, port health, harbour masters, dockers, security, and shipping agents.

10. To support and guide those SM staff and volunteers who represent SM on the region’s Port Welfare Committees.

11. To work in an ecumenical and multi-faith context by respecting the differing religious and spiritual needs of seafarers drawn from diverse regions throughout the world.

12. To encourage and support the development of an ecumenical service to seafarers through engagement with our ecumenical colleagues, including the Mission to Seafarers, The Fishermen's Mission, The Sailors’ Society, and the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

13. To engage with local maritime colleges.

14. To engage with the local press, in particular the local Catholic diocesan press.

15. To represent and be a proactive advocate for SM at Deanery meetings, in local parishes, in schools, with diocesan Justice and Peace networks, with migrant communities, in the local Catholic community and in the local community as a whole.

16. To support the Fundraising and Communications team with the development of local fundraising initiatives.