Encounter and Dialogue with the Seafarers: Towards an Intercultural, Ecumenical, and Interreligious Maritime Mission

Parallel Panel 6, International Conference on Migration, Theological and Social Studies held at the Pontifical University of Urbaniana, Rome, (Italy), 21^st – 23^rd of October, 2025

Grateful for the opportunity to participate in the International Conference on Migration, Theological and Social Studies held at the Pontifical University of Urbaniana, Rome, (Italy), last 21st - 23rd  of October, 2025. The theme of the conference was "Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope".  It was really inspiring to listen to the testimonies of different people who have direct contact with the phenomenon of migrations. There was an opportunity to visit Casa Scalabrini and Borgo Laudato Si, which was highly appreciated. One afternoon, before the conference was concluded, there was a parallel panel where I had a chance to share the Mission of Stella Maris in Algeciras. This is the abstract of my presentation

Encounter and Dialogue with the Seafarers:                                                                                        

Towards an Intercultural, Ecumenical, and Interreligious Maritime Mission

Abstract

Seafarers, in the industry that transports 90% of the global trade, are multifaceted. They leave their families, navigate for months, and work with different cultures and religions. They board on a ship of different flags, cross borders, and dock in the ports of another territory. Nevertheless, they maintain their connections to their homelands. This complex situation invites the maritime mission to be more holistic and integral in its approach.

As a response, this paper explores theological concepts aiming to illuminate this reality, to establish a theological foundation for the mission, and to contribute to the integral human development of the seafarers. The theology of encounter and dialogue helps answer the paper’s main question: What theological concepts can be explored to develop an intercultural, ecumenical, and interreligious maritime mission that responds to the complexity of the context and that is done together with the seafarers?

This paper sees reality in the eyes of faith, inspired by my personal experience working in Algeciras Port (Spain), a  pluricultural environment. Furthermore, a contextual theological method of reflection will be used. First, it will analyze the complexity of the context with the help of the social sciences. Second, it will reflect the concept of encounter and dialogue through the Scripture, Magisterium, and Tradition. Third, the analysis of the maritime context and the theological reflections will be connected in order to make practical implications of encounter and dialogue following the scheme of the four verb response to modern migration: Welcoming, Protecting, Promoting, and Integrating.

Finally, this paper will be an open process that can be done through the involvement of the seafarers, chaplains, volunteers, and advocates. Encounters and dialogues will offer a new social, cultural, and religious perspective. Seafarers will be prophets of peace and hope in a pluralistic, globalized, fragmented, and conflicted world.

Keywords: Theological reflection, Encounter and Dialogue, Intercultural Ecumenical and Interreligious, Mission with the seafarers

By Fr. Jovannie Postrano, CS