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It was a dark night, on Christmas Eve, at sea

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Seafarers Ministry of Green Bay once again lifted spirits during the Christmas season by presenting 600 gift boxes during November and December to the men and women who work aboard ships The boxes feature Christmas cards, homemade cookies, candies and a small gift.

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"They really appreciate the gift boxes," said Dcn. Glenn Teske, port chaplain in Green Bay. "I receive many thank you letters expressing their gratitude. We also give gift boxes to the Coast Guard."

"Many times that's the only Christmas that the guys will have, so even if the cookies are stale by that time, somebody thought of them and they have a nice Christmas card," said Msgr. Jim Dillenburg, former diocesan director for Apostleship of the Sea (AOS). "If they are running on Christmas, they usually get a nice dinner aboard the ship, but otherwise, it's business as usual. It's pretty cold out there and they get pretty lonely. They see the lights in the towns, but it's pretty dark out on the water."

Seafarers Ministry of Green Bay has provided a Christian presence in and to the maritime community of Northeast Wisconsin since 1969, but in many ways it remains "an invisible ministry to invisible people," said Msgr. Jim Dillenburg.

"If you see the ship, you don't necessarily see the people aboard the ship because it is so huge," he said. "A lot of people don't give a second thought to people of the sea, their special needs and what it's like to be at your workplace 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sometimes 30 to 40 days at a time."

"The church wants to welcome everybody, wherever they are," he added. "Seafarers are on the move, especially today when the amount of time they have ashore is so limited. They need someone to be present and meet them where they are, instead of expecting them to find us."

Dcn. Teske, and Ken Schneider of First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay provide that presence today. When ships arrive in Green Bay, they offer to go aboard to visit the seafarers. Seafarers Ministry of Green Bay also has 20 volunteers who support the ministry behind the scenes.

"Five ships a week come into port here," said Dcn. Teske, who has served as port chaplain since 1996. "We have to sign in and out. Not all the ships allow us to come aboard. We often go to the galley or the rec room on the ship, and ask whoever is available, if they want to come and talk."

"After 9-11, it has been very restricted, both for our getting aboard the ship as well as for them getting off," he added. "The last year, it's been loosened up a bit. We have good relationships with both the captain of the port and the Coast Guard. Many people don't realize that there are foreign ships that come into Green Bay. We get 20 to 30 Canadian ships a year. Most are self-unloading, carrying coal, or limestone. We have very good relationships with the Canadian seafarers. They always welcome us aboard."

"The role of the church is to give hope and nourish the faith of the people to give witness of God's love," said Msgr. Dillenburg, pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Green Bay. "We never go down as Catholics. We never go to convert anybody. That's God's work. Our work is to be present to the people so that seafarers know that God is present for them through the chaplain."

Materials, including a seafarers' prayer booklet, Bibles from St. Vincent de Paul, a book of psalms, magazines, a seafarers' ministry brochure and a Green Bay area informational booklet, are delivered during ship visits.

In addition to local seafarers ministry, Dcn. Teske and Msgr. Dillenburg have served Apostleship of the Sea nationally and internationally. Dcn. Teske is currently on the AOSUSA board, and serves as the Certification Committee Chairperson.

"One of the issues we have addressed with AOSUSA is certifying priests for cruise ships," said Dcn. Teske. "If a priest requests certification, a letter is sent to the bishop of the diocese to make sure the priest is in good standing. If certified, priestly duties can be performed on the cruise ship."

Msgr. Dillenburg has an extensive background with the National Board of Apostleship of the Sea. In the early '80s, he served as national director. From 1991 to 1996, he served in the Vatican Office for Apostleship of the Sea in Rome.

"We in Green Bay have stayed active in the national and international scene," he said. "It's expensive for us, but we've always gone to conventions to learn and to share our story. Green Bay is on the map."

Msgr. Dillenburg, who resigned from active seafarers' ministry in 2000, was instrumental in starting the training center for port chaplains in Houston, Texas.

"It interested me because I didn't have any training at the time I started," he said. "I always felt on the outside because it's a very technical, specialized world on the ships. The Apostleship of the Sea got some money from the Catholic Daughters of the Americas to set up the training program."

Green Bay and Houston were the first ports in the United States to develop an ecumenical ministry for seafarers.

"Before that, ministries were in competition with one another," said Msgr. Dillenburg. "I believe it was the Holy Spirit that got us together."

"Green Bay is the only Great Lakes port that has this service on a regular basis," said Dcn. Teske. "It has changed over the years. Ships are generally in port six to eight hours today. Years ago, some ships would stay as long as two weeks. The seafarers don't have as much time to get off the ship. It's a difficult life."

Seafarers Ministry of Green Bay recognizes those from the maritime community who have lost their lives with a spring memorial service on the shores of the Fox River near the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay. In November, the United States Catholic Bishops declared May 22 as a day of prayer for seafarers throughout the country.

"It's important to remember them," said Msgr. Dillenburg. "Many have been forgotten in their lives, so they are probably forgotten in death. We don't forget anyone."