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“Even the crew of a merchant ship must now live with the fear of a terrorist attack on the planet’s most crowded navigation routes. Terrorism and violence seem inevitable” and “this may cause discouragement”, but “even if we are not always able to understand it, we must have the certainty that this is God’s world and that the Lord shall prevail over evil, hope over despair”. So said Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O Connor, archbishop of Westminster, during the annual mass for seamen celebrated in recent days in St Paul’s Cathedral, packed with faithful and in the presence of Princess Anne. The archbishop’s thoughts also went to the fishing industry in the UK, which is slowly disappearing, suffocated by the continuing debate about the maintenance of jobs in the sector and the conservation of marine resources. “In spite of the many threats that pose a risk to the seafaring community said the cardinal we must be courageous and remain steadfast: I think it’s no accident that the first to be called to be disciples of Christ were fishermen… they were quick to understand that what they were hearing from the Lord was a message of life. It was this that gave them hope, and it is still this that gives us hope today”. As patron of the Apostolate of the Sea (AOS), Cardinal Murphy-O Connor, following the service, inaugurated a painting in the crypt of the cathedral; it was specially commissioned for seamen and will be reproduced in the pastoral aids that the AOS distributes to them.
