Page 25 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

Extension | Winter 2019 25

32,000

seafarers passing
through Port of
Mobile annually

missed most of her Archer partners with others to
upbringing living support the sailors. “He has estab-
his life at sea,” he lished a much-respected presence
said. with port facility operators, port
“Most people for- police, agents, and the harbormas-
get that there are ter, that brings great credit to this
people on these ministry and facilitates a more ef-
vessels,” he added. fective outreach,” said Donald
“People see the Rose, a retired U.S. Coast Guard
ships. They see the captain who works with Archer.
shipping contain- “Indeed, the ministry itself has
ers. But they do not become a visible witness to every-
see those responsi- one that these mariners, from all
ble for getting those faiths and cultures, are our ‘neigh-
TOP Deacon John Archer’s maritime ministry containers from point A to point B, bors,’ and calls us to a new aware-
is based at the Port of Mobile. let alone recognize their immense ness of how the Gospel message is
ABOVE Deacon Archer serves sailors who are emotional and spiritual needs due real and relevant,” Rose said.
at sea for months, away from their families and to the isolation that comes with
without access to churches. being a person of the sea.”