The Visit of Scalabrinian Young Missionaries to Stella Maris Algeciras

There are places you don’t just visit… you feel them. Stella Maris Algeciras was one of them.

During these days, missionaries from the Philippines, Mexico, Haiti, Italy, Vietnam, Brazil,

Indonesia, and Zambia—now serving across Europe and Africa—shared more than a meeting: they lived an experience.

Here, at the port, among stories of arrival and departure, they encountered the reality of people on the move: seafarers, migrants, and those searching for a place to belong.

To listen, to accompany, to be present. Sometimes, the mission begins simply there.

Because when you look into someone’s eyes, numbers disappear… and people appear.

And then, everything makes sense.

Within the framework of the international meeting of young Scalabrinian missionaries held in

Málaga in February 2026, a group of participants visited the city of Algeciras to gain first-hand insight into the pastoral and social reality surrounding migration.

The participants, coming from countries such as the Philippines, Mexico, Haiti, Italy, Vietnam,

Brazil, Indonesia, and Zambia, carry out their missionary work in different contexts across Europe and Africa, reflecting the intercultural richness that characterizes their mission.

One of the most meaningful moments of the visit was their time at Stella Maris Algeciras, a center dedicated to welcoming, accompanying, and serving seafarers and people passing through the port area.

During their visit, the missionaries learned about the daily work carried out at the center, where human support, listening, and guidance are offered to seafarers, migrants, and people in vulnerable situations. This encounter allowed for a valuable exchange of experiences, enabling the visitors to understand the challenges and hopes that shape the lives of those who arrive at or work in the Port of Algeciras.

The presence at Stella Maris was also an opportunity to deepen their understanding of a shared mission, recognizing the importance of being close to people on the move and accompanying them not only in their material needs but also in their human and spiritual dimensions.

For many participants, this experience became a key moment of the meeting, as it gave a concrete face to the realities they had been reflecting on during the previous days in Málaga. Direct contact with the work in Algeciras strengthened their vocation of service and reaffirmed their commitment to a Church that walks alongside migrants and seafarers.

Author: Marga