The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has appointed Father John Mission of the Archdiocese of Cebu as the new national director of the Church’s “maritime apostolate.”
Father Mission will work alongside Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, CBCP’s bishop-promoter of Stella Maris – Philippines.
The priest replaced Monsignor Eutequiano Legitimas, who heads the Stella Maris Center in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
Father Mission has been serving as chaplain and executive director of Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center in Cebu.
The priest will serve for a term of three years, renewable upon the discretion of the episcopal conference.
Stella Maris, formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea, is a global seafarers’ charity work of the Catholic Church.
In the Philippines, the ministry has been providing pastoral care and service to seafarers and their families, maritime students, and even to port personnel.
