Christmas 2023 Appeal

Your generous gift could help our brave seafarers feel much closer to home this Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, the chances are you are already making plans to get together with loved ones over the festive season. Sadly, for many of our friends in the seafaring community, Christmas can feel like any other day spent thousands of miles away from home. The pain of separation from loved ones is felt even more acutely at this time of the year. That’s why I am sending you this heartfelt Christmas appeal today.

Let me begin by thanking you so much for the ways you continue to support The Mission with your generous gifts and faithful prayers. Every gift we receive from you is vital for enabling us to support seafarers in their moments of greatest need. With this in mind, please will you show your solidarity and support for seafarers once again by giving a special Christmas gift today?

I have many happy memories of Christmases with family and friends. However, amongst my most special memories have been things done for others on Christmas Day – helping run a Christmas lunch for those who would have been homeless or alone, visiting patients when I was chaplain of a Hospice, taking services in numerous churches. One Christmas Day, I spent preparing to drive a caravan to Italy following a devastating earthquake.

You will have your own similar memories. The Christian nativity stories tell of the great and transformative gift of Jesus to the world. It is surely in looking outwards in generosity, especially to those in need, that we truly live out the meaning of Christmas. I am proud that so many of our chaplaincy teams around the world will be doing just that throughout this Christmas period, and indeed on Christmas day itself. Gifts will be given in great numbers, lovingly packed by our staff and volunteers; greetings will be exchanged; friendship and hospitality will be offered; and particular needs will be addressed.

All this will mean so much to crew – for whom Christmas Day will just be another working day, although the cook will probably do something a bit special! I have seen for myself the pleasure one of our visits brings, especially at Christmas. You need no reminding that over 90% of all we use—essentials and luxuries—comes by sea. You need no reminding of the fact that the heroic and sacrificial service of seafarers remains invisible to so many. These men and women are away from home for 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and sometimes longer. That separation from home and family brings hard challenges, both for them and those left behind. The pain is especially acute around Christmas, and crews will often miss very many Christmases. That pain is well illustrated in the letter enclosed, written by a seafaring spouse. I will let it speak for itself.

As you enjoy all the goodies of the season (many of them brought by sea and the gift of seafarers), please take some time to stand in their shoes. You might feel something of what it means to be in a ship, remote from those you love at a time when most of the world is celebrating together with those most important to them. Please continue to help us in meeting the needs of this vast, amazing, and much neglected community. One captain said to me recently, “we are the forgotten army”.

This Christmas, please help us ensure that seafarers are not left feeling forgotten and alone. For seafarers struggling to speak to their loved ones over Christmas because of poor or non-existent connectivity on board the ship.

On behalf of all of us at The Mission to Seafarers, we thank you again for your wonderful, unstinting support and wish you a very Happy Christmas and God’s blessings in the coming year.

With my sincere and heartfelt thanks

The Revd. Canon Andrew Wright

Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers