Turkson, who heads the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, says working in the fishing industry is one of the most perilous jobs in the world.

And, each year 32,000 people lose their lives working in the fishing industry, Turkson said in a message for World Fisheries Day.

Turkson's message calls on Governments and International Organizations to implement the law and ensure fishermen and their rights are protected.

The Catholic Church in New Zealand outreaches to fishers and their families through the Apostleship of the Sea.

It is no stranger to cases of abuse and precarious working conditions, false contracts and even slavery that takes place in fishing.

Fr Jeff Drane, the National Director of the Apostleship of the Sea in New Zealand supports Turkson's call.

Drane confirmed the dangerous nature of the work and that fishers' arriving in New Zealand ports are exploited.

"The New Zealand Government has passed legislation (the Fisheries Act - Foreign Vessels and other Matters - amendments May 2016) to control foreign vessels when in our territorial waters but our ocean is so huge it's hard to police," he said.

Drane says that it is only when the fishing vessels are inshore that it is possible to notice a dangerous work environment and exploitation.

However, he says there is no absolutely effective way of tracking abuse or exploitation either close or far from shore.

Seafarers transport more than 95% of the food and goods the world uses every day, and yet these 1.3 million hardworking men and women are often forgotten.

Away from family and friends for many months at a time, working long hours and navigating some of the world's most dangerous stretches of ocean, seafaring can be a tough, lonely and hazardous career.

The Apostleship of the Sea, internationally also known as Stella Maris, promotes the spiritual and social welfare of seafarers irrespective of nationality or belief.

Sources

• ICN
• Supplied

The seminars, run by the Society's National Spiritual Adviser Fr Jeff Drane, are being held in the coming months in response to requests from Vincentians at the grassroots level.

The theme of the seminar series is: There's work to be done - renewing the Society's vision in New Zealand.

"The seminars will provide an opportunity for people to be inspired once again by the vision of the Society and to be re-motivated in putting their faith into action," says Jeff.

"Together we will re-look at the mission of the Society and re-evaluate what we are doing locally to meet the needs of the disadvantaged, particularly those on the fringes of society."

At the seminars, there will be a strong focus on recruiting new members and pooling members' experience of what works well in attracting new and younger members.

"The membership of the Society is ageing and we need fresh blood," says Jeff.

"We need to invite people from a range of faith communities - Maori, Pasifika, Filipino, Indian, Korean for example - to set up Vinnies groups in which they feel comfortable.

"There is a great opportunity to harness the vitality of these communities in the service of those most in need in society."

The Society's Youth Adviser to the National Board, Paolo Minehan, says there is huge potential to attract young people to the work of the Society.

The challenge for the Society is to be flexible enough to engage with them, says Paolo.

"We need to come up with projects which young people can do and which fit in with their schedules.

"Young people have lots of skills and talents and they can offer those to the Society if you give them the opportunity.

"The way the Society is organised, meetings can be hard for young people to get to and it can be a bit of a closed shop."

Source

Supplied: read the complete press release

The work specialised in assisting under-resourced families, mental health consumers, refugees and migrants and delivered ongoing benefits to families.Fr Drane is perhaps best known for his work with the Newtown Budgeting and Advice Services.

"It was just the relief of having enough money for rent so they could afford to go to the doctor", he said.

"Because they were healthier, (children) were able to achieve better at school."

Jeff Drane also

• helped set up the Strathmore Community Base, which offered an after-school care programme, health services and community events
• provided workshops for schools
• health and community services as part of Network Waitangi
• worked with the Wellington High School community education advisory board
• chaired the Wellington Women's Supported Accommodation, and
• is a promoter and member of the living wage movement.

Reflecting back, he said that emphasising the partnership with Maori and the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi met with a lot of resistance.

But, he said, "it did a hell of a lot of good".

Presenting Jeff with his award, Rongotai MP Annette King said she was inspired by Jeff Drane's compassion and ability to relate to people during his many years of assisting families.

"It's a hard job because you're dealing with people in crisis," she said.

But for Jeff, it wasn't like work at all.

"If you love what you're doing you never really have to work because it doesn't feel like work", he said.

"I was of somewhat useful assistance to so many people.

"I loved going to work in the morning."

Jeff Drane is currently part of the Wellintown team.

He focuses on facilitation that is creative, motivating and empowering and rather than seeking short-term solutions, he helps organisations chart their own authentic direction and discover new growth.

Source

• The Wellingtonian
• Image: The Wellingtonian

The organisation is reported to be "ship-shape" with sound management and financial reports as well as a boost to volunteer numbers.

Father Jeff Drane SM of Wellington will take the organisation forward as new National Director, assisted by the new Deputy, Deacon Sid Wells of Tauranga.

Father Jeff acknowledged the special place that Catholic seafarers have in the place of NZ's maritime history during the AGM's group visit to the Mount Street Cemetery. "Unless we know our past, we don't have a future", said Father Jeff, as a commemorative plaque, funded by AoS, was unveiled in honour of the early Catholic pioneers who sailed to settle in NZ in the 1840s.

Many of these pioneers died "the New Zealand Death" — drowning — in one of the many coastal shipwrecks not uncommon in the era, or in the harbour.

A key priority at the AGM was to continue to develop strategies to future-proof the AoS.

Given the growth in shipping and trade, seafarer numbers can be expected to keep increasing. The challenge is in dealing with the increased demand for AoS services with an ageing volunteer base and replacement volunteers not being easy to find.

Father Jeff is delighted to welcome 21 new volunteers to help strengthen the AoS following a dedicated AoS awareness-raising drive. The new volunteers were commissioned during Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Saturday evening.

A 2020 strategic plan is being more fully developed to help deal with the many areas of responsibility, such as health and safety, code of ethics and security.

During the AGM Father Kevin Head reported back on his participation at the AoS World Congress in the Vatican City last November. "The new evangelisation is the challenge of working with Catholics who no longer walk with us. But evangelisation starts with us - our lives of prayer and quiet goodness are the first step if we are to have any significant effect in spreading the gospel."

Source

• Dr A G Stewart, Tauranga.
• Image: Fr Jeffrey Drane, SM, National Director, AoS NZ

Want to know more?

• To join Apostleship of the Sea or find out more information contact Fr Jeff Drane at jeffdrane@gmail.com
• The key objects of the Apostleship of the Sea in NZ are to promote as fully as possible the spiritual welfare of Catholic seafarers and fisherfolk and the social welfare of all seafarers and fisherfolk irrespective of nationality or creed.
• AoS works in four centres in New Zealand - Wellington, Auckland, Napier and Tauranga
• AoS operates in about 100 countries around the world in about 250 centres, e.g. http://www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk/, about 100 of which are ecumenical