On 12 July Christians around the world will celebrate Sea Sunday. However n the light of the continued uncertainty around coronavirus, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have decided to postpone Sea Sunday 2020 from July 12 to December. The date has not yet been finalised, but it is likely to be either Sunday 13 or Sunday 20 December.

As you know, the income generated from Sea Sunday is crucial in maintaining our support for seafarers and fishers, but it is also an excellent opportunity to spread awareness of our work to others. We are very grateful that the Bishops have found a way to rearrange Sea Sunday and we look forward to celebrating seafarers and fishers in churches with you in December.

We will update you as soon as we have more information.

Nevertheless, we would urge you to continue to pray for seafarers and fishers and their families, many of whom are facing financial and personal difficulties during these challenging times.

The Vatican has released a Sea Sunday message and prayer and we encourage you to read and reflect on the message and to pray the prayer.

Sea Sunday Prayer

Holy Virgin Mary, sign of the maternal face of God,
with filial confidence we turn to you in the current pandemic. Keep in your Immaculate Heart the seafarers, the fishermen and their families, who with their work are ensuring the human family with food and other basic needs.

Sign of the closeness of the Father,
support them in their trials and protect them from all dangers: isolation and severe physical and mental stress, long periods spent on board ships, distance from their family, friends and from their own country, fear of contamination, piracy attacks and attempted attacks, armed robberies.

Sign of the mercy of the Son,
help Stella Maris chaplains and volunteers to listen to the people of the sea, trying to respond to their material and spiritual needs, standing by their side, raising their concerns, upholding their labor rights and preventing discrimination.

Sign of the fruitfulness of the Spirit and advocate of seafarers,
bring unscrupulous ship-owners, crewing agencies and managers back to the way of justice who, using the excuse of the pandemic, dismiss their obligations towards seafarers Let us stand in solidarity with those who have lost their income.

Sign of consolation and sure hope,
tenderly embraces coronavirus victims, especially the seafarers who committed suicide.

Star of the Sea, pray for us. Amen!