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How Stella Maris brings comfort to seafarers passing through Seattle
Stella Maris, a Catholic ministry active at the Port of Seattle, offers seafarers pastoral care, supplies and a friendly face during their brief time on land — work that’s expanding after Pope Leo XIV elevated the ministry’s standing within the church.
By Mia Gallegos | FāVS News Reporter
SEATTLE — Stella Maris, a Catholic ministry located at several coastal ports across the United States, including Seattle, functions as a resource for seafarers working overseas to access pastoral care and accompaniment, making their — often brief — time on land personal and compassionate.
Bishop Frank Schuster, who oversees Stella Maris ministry nationally as the U.S. bishop promoter, explained that the work extends beyond the seafarers themselves.
“We (also) minister to the port workers, and the families of the seafarers back home,” Schuster said.
Schuster explained that the contracts that these seafarers sign affect far more than merely those who are working on the ships. Many of these contracts require these seafarers to be overseas for between six and nine months, he explained.
A welcome ‘ministry of presence’
This timeline takes a toll on the ship workers, but also on their families back in their home countries. In many cases, the sacrifice that these seafarers are making in signing these contracts are to provide for their families, Schuster said.
“The thing we do most with the seafaring ministry is accompaniment and service to anybody,” Schuster said. “It doesn’t matter what their religion is and if they’re Catholic or not. We’re there to provide that human interaction.”
Schuster explained the interactions he has had and seen with seafarers on these ships. There is an outpouring of gratitude for the service and “ministry of presence” that is offered by Stella Maris.
“They welcome us on board and they love it, because it’s a new face,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, they’re just excited that you are interested in them.”
Schuster shared that these crews are seeing the faces of their fellow crewmates on board for months at a time. An unrecognized face when docking at these ports — and one who wants to hear about their lives, experience on ship and needs — is a renewing encounter.
Stella Maris offers a variety of services to the seafarers, ranging from bringing goodie bags on board, to offering rides to local grocery stores, to welcoming the crew into the local seafarer center for a change of scenery.
Religious ministries are provided as well for those who are members of various faith backgrounds on board. For Catholics, there are opportunities to go to Mass and receive sacraments. Additionally, chaplains that go on board are equipped to accompany those experiencing mental health struggles.
The Archdiocese of Seattle is one of the three denominational partners that make up the Seattle Seafarers Center. Additionally, the archdiocese has Stella Maris as one of their 14 outreach ministries.
Helping people know the seafarers behind their ‘goods’
Joe Cotton, the executive director of the Office of Vicar General at the Archdiocese of Seattle and member of the board of directors for the center, shared his desire for making the experience of these seafarers more visible to the public.
“I think it’s around 90% of the goods that we use are brought to us by these international seafarers, and they are invisible,” Cotton said. “Most people throughout Seattle have no idea that they’re there or that they have a hand in bringing us the stuff we use. Our collective mission (at the center) is to make visible the invisible.”
Cotton shared that other than the archdiocese, the two other denominations that make up the Seattle Seafarers Center are Episcopalean and Evangelical Lutheran partners. He described how this collaboration shows what is possible when different religious perspectives come together with a common goal.
“We’re all in on this singular mission and so why would we do this separately?” Cotton said. “I think we are an excellent model for port ministries everywhere. I am super proud of it because it reflects the unity that is possible in the world.”
Meeting seafarer needs where they are
Schuster spoke to the various accommodations that Stella Maris has made in providing their ministry to seafarers. In some cases, ships won’t be allowed to dock at a port for a variety of reasons. It could be related to paperwork, the goods on board or another cause. In these cases, Stella Maris has sent a smaller boat with clergy and resources to the ship to interact with the crew and determine their needs.
In fewer cases, there will be a necessity for language accommodations. Schuster shared that many of the seafarers are proficient in English. However, Stella Maris has priests and deacons that speak a variety of different languages, allowing them to interact with many members of the crew who may not be as comfortable speaking English.
The future of the ‘Apostleship of the Sea’
Schuster shared his excitement for the future of Stella Maris, specifically in the context of a chirograph signed by Pope Leo XIV back in November of 2025.
“(He) has established ‘Apostleship of the Sea’ as its own juridical person,” Schuster said. “What this means is that it’s its own standalone ministry that is recognized by Canon Law.”
Schuster explained that this is still dependent on the Dichastery of the promotion of Integral Human Development, but it is a separate body that allows for individuals on an international level to be supporting the ministry full time.
Discussions are in the process surrounding the potential for a general assembly in Rome for bishop promoters around the world to take the next step within the global impact of the ministry following this establishment by Pope Leo XIV.
“Pope Leo has taken an interest in this ministry, so we’re excited to see what that might mean locally in our country,” Schuster said. “The possibilities are exciting.”
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