FOR Wynnum’s Peter Owens helping seafarers like Ilner Siloterio – who had his leg and arm crushed by a ship’s turbine – is what makes his work with the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) ministry so rewarding.
After his accident, aboard a ship off Mackay enroute to the Port of Brisbane about two-and-a-half years ago, the seafarer was in deep trouble.
“His wife and children back in the Philippines were depending on him for support,” Peter said.
“It was bad enough he’d been away at sea from his family for more than six months.
“Now this accident meant he’d most likely end up on the scrap heap, his career as a seafarer over.
“He’d be no longer able to support his family.”
But, fortunately for Ilner, the AOS and Wynnum’s Filipino community weren’t going to abandon him.
As Peter later explained, the injured seafarer received the best of support – from financial assistance through to legal advice.
Peter’s vital work with the AOS mission has been enabled by his family’s support and his 42-year career in both Victorian and Queensland police services.
“None of this work would have been possible without the support of my wife Theresa and the six children,” he said.
“In some ways my police work prepared me for the role.
“It’s still about service to others – because seafarers are also looking for assistance, justice and sometimes equity.
“And anyway, as an island nation we in Australia have a particular debt of gratitude to these often isolated and mistreated workers.
“Of all the goods we purchase in Australia, 90 per cent come to us on ships worked by seafarers.”
Peter, who retired as an inspector with the Queensland Police Service last year, has been an AOS volunteer for 21 years.
It was the first time he’d been closely involved in an apostolic work of the Church, though he’s been president of Parents’ and Friends’ committees, is a Eucharistic minister and both he and Theresa are involved in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.
“I blame my late dad Matt, also a Victorian police officer, for me becoming so involved in the Church,” Peter said.
“When I was growing up, he was heavily involved in our local parish in Melbourne West Heidelberg.
“Whenever we’d see him going to meetings, one of us kids would ask: ‘Where are you going to now?’ But we’d know the answer would usually be ‘a church meeting’.”
It was one of Peter’s children, Nathan, who started him as an AOS volunteer. Nathan, now a ship’s captain with Farstad Shipping working off the Western Australian coast, decided at 13 to become a junior AOS volunteer.
“Nathan was allowed to travel out to the port as long as he had a parent with him,” Peter said.
“That’s where I came in and twenty years later here I still am, finding the AOS work more rewarding than ever.”
This brings us back to the matter of Ilner.
“He was forced to retire and the shipping company didn’t pay him,” Peter said.
“The AOS and the local Filipino community continued to support him and his family while he was hospitalised and (rehabilitated) in Brisbane.
“Eventually, after nearly two years the shipping company offered a paltry amount. Following legal advice, we told him he should not accept the offer.
“Earlier this year a financial settlement well in excess of the original offer was made.
“Now he has used some of the money to buy a shop and generate some money to live on – so it’s been a very satisfying outcome.”
The Apostleship of the Sea, founded in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1920 and formally approved by the Holy See in 1922, is under the direction of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Since August last year, Peter has been employed by Brisbane archdiocese’s Centacare as shift manager for the AOS’ local Stella Maris outreach to the Port of Brisbane.
“Centacare most generously also allows me time to work as the ministry’s national director following the retirement of Ted Richardson from this role,” Peter said. Ted remains AOS regional co-ordinator for Oceania.
“Guardian Angels School at Wynnum has also been generous giving us office space in their Mount Carmel campus.
“This keeps the costs down and gives us a base close to the Port of Brisbane.”
Then there are the volunteers.
As Peter said in his address to Wynnum’s Guardian Angels Church community on Sea Sunday in July, these generous people are crucial – and in increasingly short supply.
“During the past 12 months we have lost five volunteers, two to sudden death and three due to age and illness,” he told the congregation.
“Prayer and donations are also essential.”
In simple terms, he outlined the mission’s work and the help needed to continue.
“The Apostleship of the Sea is open five days a week Monday to Friday from 9am to 10pm and we drive to the Port of Brisbane, a distance of 10 kilometres.
“This trip is undertaken six times daily and we drive as far as the BP crude wharf at Pinkenba on request of the seafarers.
“We minister to all seafarers regardless of race, colour and creed.
“When the seafarers come to the Stella Maris AOS centre we encourage dialogue as best we can.
“They sometimes seek the comfort of the sacraments and the port chaplain from Guardian Angels parish is always most accommodating.
“Some seafarers want to go shopping to purchase fresh vegetables, milk and bread.
“Others just want to walk around the streets.”
Peter told the congregation helping the men contact their families was very important.
“Some seafarers are away for up to 12 months,” he said.
“We have computers at the centre they use for Internet access, Facebook, Skype and email.”
In conclusion, Peter asked Mass-goers to “remember the AOS is an apostolic ministry” and invited them to play their part.
He referred to Matthew’s Gospel account of Jesus explaining “the Last Judgement” when Jesus said the Lord would be asked “When did I not feed you, clothe you or help you?”
And Jesus said the reply would be, “When you did it for the least of mine you did it for me.”
To support the AOS, contact (07) 3348 6629.
