ON Sunday, July 9, churches all around the world celebrated Sea Sunday, remembering seafarers and praying for them, their families and those who support them.

In preparation for Sea Sunday, the students at St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School in Farnham, created a range of letters and prayers for seafarers, as well as colourful posters and greetings cards with shipping themes.

At a school assembly, Alastair Emblem from the fundraising department of Apostleship of the Sea thanked the children and explained how their work would be distributed to seafarers by the Portsmouth and Southampton Port Chaplain.

Many of the letters had focused on praying that seafarers would not miss their families too much on their long journeys away from home. The children were glad to hear that seafarers were comforted by receiving these letters and prayers of support.

Some of the posters and cards were also used to make a Sea Sunday display in the Church of St Joan of Arc next door to the school.

“I was really impressed by the depth of understanding shown by the children in their letters and prayers,” said Alastair (whose own children had attended the school many years ago).

“The school has a real heart for helping those in need, and we’re delighted that they have given so much support to Apostleship of the Sea.”

Headteacher Anne Gunn explained that the school has a “One World” committee, which looks at helping those less fortunate in the world.

The committee members have the task of keeping the rest of the school informed and report to their classes after meetings.

Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is the Catholic Church’s official outreach to seafarers and fishermen, through port chaplains, ship visitors and cruise chaplains.

Sea Sunday is its principal fundraising day, with donations going to fund its work visiting 10,000 ships and supporting more than 200,000 seafarers every year in the UK.

“The importance of seafarers is sadly undervalue. We depend on them to bring us 95 per cent of everything we use and consume in this country,” Alastair explained.

“They do so much for us, and AoS returns the favour by meeting the pastoral and practical needs of all seafarers visiting our ports, regardless of faith.”