By Deacon Marlowe Sabater
Special to the Herald
Oct. 18 marked the centennial of World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI in 1926. This year, Pope Leo XIV chose the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission,” inviting the faithful to renew their commitment to sharing Christ’s love with the world.
The Diocese of Honolulu’s Apostleship of the Sea-Hawaii (AoSH) Ministry, within the Office for Social Ministry, celebrated this milestone a day early with 37 seafarers from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, representing 10 fishing vessels in Hawaii’s longline fishery. Joining the occasion at Pier 36 in Honolulu Harbor were 59 parishioners from the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu and Resurrection of the Lord Church in Waipio Gentry (bottom photo).
Reflecting on this year’s theme, the AoSH Ministry, parishioners and seafarers came together to live out their shared mission in Christ. Every gathering at Honolulu Harbor is a witness to the unity we find in him — regardless of nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, culture, profession or economic circumstances, we gather as one at the altar of Christ.
People from many communities have embraced this call to be united in mission. They include the co-cathedral, led by pastor Father Manny Hewe; the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs community, led by Father Anthony Tran; the co-cathedral’s Social Ministry, led by Julie Ratum; and Resurrection of the Lord’s Women’s Group, led by Mary Bretschneider.
They demonstrated that our mission to seafarers goes beyond celebrating Mass. It is a commitment to building relationships and accompanying our foreign brothers, whom the wider community often overlooks.
At the AoSH’s Vietnamese-language Mass on Sept. 26, 32 seafarers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Kiribati celebrated the Eucharist together at Pier 38 (the Honolulu Fish Auction). Nationalities and languages may differ, but our faith unites us. Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God, and our shared language is love.
Later, during the Oct. 17 Mass at Pier 36, a fisherman approached members of the Social Ministry grieving the recent death of his father in the Philippines. AoSH included his father in the evening’s Mass intentions, and the Social Ministry quickly organized a donation drive to support the fisherman.
During fellowship, the ROL Women’s Group held a beanie raffle, a simple activity that brought joy to the fishermen. One winner, speaking with his family back home over a video call, shared the news of his prize and happily reported that he had enjoyed a feast.
These small but meaningful gestures remind us that the mission to seafarers is one of accompaniment: walking alongside them before, during and after their encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. It is about making sure they know they are seen, valued and loved.
Yet the seafarers are not merely recipients of our ministry. They, too, are missionaries who inspire us to live our faith more deeply. Through their presence, they draw parishioners beyond the walls of their churches and invite them to experience what it means to have a missionary heart.
Their witness extends beyond the harbor. Through their work, they provide food for our tables, steward the ocean’s resources responsibly and make extraordinary sacrifices to support their families back home. Their livelihood connects caring for God’s creation with the dignity of honest work and the love of family.
Seafarers travel around the world, fulfilling their personal missions while also evangelizing by living out the Gospel message. By placing their faith in Christ at the heart of their mission, they remind us that evangelization is not limited to words or formal ministry. It also shows up in our daily choices, the responsibilities we shoulder and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
One fisherman shared that he hopes to work for one more year before returning home permanently. He has already helped four of his children complete college and now hopes to save enough money to put a roof over his house.
He is nearing the completion of a deeply personal mission: providing a better future for his family. Yet even as he approaches this goal, his life continues to evangelize our community.
His perseverance, generosity and commitment to his loved ones challenge us to reflect on our own priorities. What sacrifices are we willing to make for our families? How do we place Christ at the center of our daily lives? How can our work become a mission of love and service?
As we celebrate 100 years of World Mission Sunday, the Apostleship of the Sea-Hawaii Ministry reminds us that the Church’s mission is not confined by geography, language or culture. It reaches wherever people live and work, including the busy fishing vessels and harbor docks of Honolulu.
At Pier 36, the Eucharist brings us together as one family in Christ, while fellowship and compassionate service carry that unity into everyday life.
“One in Christ, United in Mission” is more than a theme; it is a way of life. We encounter Christ in the seafarer who grieves, the parishioner who reaches out, the fisherman who sacrifices for his children and every person who chooses to love beyond familiar boundaries. Together, we are called not only to serve one another but also to learn from one another, recognizing that each person has a gift to offer and a mission to fulfill.
As the seafarers return to the sea and our parishioners return to their communities, may the bonds formed at Honolulu Harbor continue to bear fruit. May we remain united in Christ, strengthened by the Eucharist and inspired to carry his love wherever our own journeys lead us.
To join or support the mission, visit the ministry’s website at officeforsocialministry.org/seafarerministry or its Facebook page, or contact Deacon Sabater at mgsabater@rcchawaii.org.
Deacon Marlowe Sabater is co-coordinator of the Apostleship of the Sea-Hawaii Ministry within the diocesan Office for Social Ministry.