From the Vatican today:
VATICAN CITY, FEB 14, 2003 (VIS) - A communique published by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People stated that the delegation from the council that visited Auckland, New Zealand January 11-22 “confirmed the preliminary proposition that the field of the Apostleship of the Sea should extend to ministering to the increasing numbers of professional sailors taking part in regattas like the America’s Cup and of people sailing on power yachts ... for work or recreation.”
Someone mentioned on a blog a while ago when this first came up that it sounded like someone at the Vatican just wanted to go sailing. I can understand extending ministry to sailors on luxury yachts same as sailors on freighters (although how many of them can there be?), but hoity-toity rich frat boys? Shouldn’t the local diocese in, say, Auckland, deal with that? Why do you need some Vatican cleric for that?
What’s next? Ministry to polo players?
——
“Father Gerard Tronche attends a Louis Vuitton Cup yacht race between the Swiss Alinghi and the U.S. Oracle at Hauraki Gulf in Auckland, New Zealand, Jan. 13. Father Tronche is one of two envoys from the Vatican’s “Apostleship of the Sea” studying the spiritual needs of professional sailors and recreational yachtsmen and yachtswomen, who spend long periods away from their home parishes.” (CNS/Reuters)
“I’m sailing!” (Guess the movie)
Image Credit
- yacht.gif: Unknown | Copyright by owner. Used under Fair Use doctrine
- Dsc0269.jpg: Own photo
