Updated 10 November 2011

Purpose of the Mission
Jesus said, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Matthew 25:34-36

The purpose of the Mission to Seafarers is to promote the spiritual, moral and physical well being of seafarers and their families world-wide. The Mission to Seafarers is an Anglican Mission and works ecumenically with our partners, primarily the Roman Catholic Diocese of Thunder Bay. Christian principles and the practice of the Anglican Diocese of Algoma and the Mission to Seafarers of London, England guide the operation of the Mission. 

The Missions to Seamen was organized in England in 1856, and the name was changed in 2000 to Mission to Seafarers to better reflect the society we serve. There are 800 Christian maritime missions of which approximately 300 are Mission to Seafarers. Here in Thunder Bay, also known as the Lakehead, the Mission to Seafarers was organized in 1961. The Seaman's Church Institute was the predecessor of the Mission, but it had ceased to operate.

The Mission's services are offered without reference to race, creed or religion. Most services are offered without charge, although donations are encouraged.

The emphasis is on the ocean-going ships. Each year 60 to 150 ocean-going vessels come to Thunder Bay with crews from India, Philippines, Poland, Ukraine, and many other countries. English is the working language on these ships. Go to Statistics for monthly and yearly stats. 

The crew is aboard for 6 to 13 months, at sea for weeks at a time, and while in port has only a day or two to go ashore and purchase sundry items. The wage for an Able Seaman is $1,000 US a month. Some berths are far enough away to be an expensive taxi ride and the increased security environment makes it more necessary for the Mission to Seafarers to assist seafarers getting ashore. Many are visiting Thunder Bay for the first time and are unfamiliar with our customs and the layout of the city. For a seafarer, safety is an issue; we forget that Thunder Bay is a fairly safe place to be, and docks in other cities are dangerous places. Many berths have had pay phones removed, and the Mission helps them to phone home. Enabling seafarers to connect with their family by phone or Internet is a very important way to care for them. The Chaplain, Watch Keepers and Drivers are here to assist.

Chaplain
The Rev'd Ed Swayze has a full time position as the chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers and the Incumbent of  St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church. He is also chaplain at HMCS GRIFFON.

Volunteers
Volunteers help as Watch Keeper, Drivers and Ship Visitors. Watch Keepers are trained to assist seafarers at the Seafarers Centre. Volunteers who are experienced as a Watch Keeper and Driver may be made a Ship Visitor. For further information, read Volunteer Opportunity and Things that make volunteers feel good. About 25 volunteers work for the Mission to Seafarers. 

The Seafarers' Centre Manager and Assistant Seafarers' Centre Manager ensures that the Centre is ready for seafarers to visit; see Ministry Description - Seafarers Centre Manager.

Services Offered

Ship Visiting
The chaplain or a volunteer ship visitor visits over 80% ocean going ships within 24 hours of it coming alongside to orient the crew to the city, arrange for a pick-up with the van and respond to requests for help. A pamphlet, Seafarers' Guide to Thunder Bay, is left with the crew. It has information on the Mission, shopping, different faiths and churches close to port facilities. Magazines and tourist information are also left.

Transportation
The Mission's van will pick crew up at their ship, take them to the Seafarers’ Centre at Keefer Intermodal, to shopping, and back to the ship. They may enjoy a tour of the city. If an officer has family on board, arrangements may be made to take his wife and children shopping or to a place where the children can play. If a ship is alongside for a longer period of time, the crew may be taken to local tourist attractions.

Hospitality at the Seafarers Centre
Watch Keepers provide hospitality for the seafarers. Comments from our guest log tell us that seafarers enjoy the opportunity to talk with people from Thunder Bay and to be in an environment that is safe and not work. Many of our volunteers are seniors, and seafarers enjoy contact with them. They miss their own family and contact with volunteers meets a little bit of the need for family.

A games table and satellite TV are available, and if a special event is on such as the World Cup seafarers can catch the game. Coffee is offered for free, pop is sold for $1.00. The chapel is open for prayer and quiet reflection. The Seafarers' Centre is located at Keefer Terminal, 100 Main St. (extension of the Harbour Expressway); go to map and contact information.

Currency Exchange
We offer a limited exchange of Canadian, US and Euros funds; and take seafarers to a bank if unable to do it.

Internet/Wireless Internet
Seafarers are really interested in Internet access. Three computers with webcams and Skype are available for seafarers to access the Internet, and for those that have laptops a wireless connection is available.

Long Distance Telephone Card/Telephones
A phone card offered for sale at the Seafarers' Centre and from ship visitors. Phones are available at the Centre for the seafarers to use. Seafarers may make direct-dial phone calls and the charge is estimated and the seafarers pay it.

Warm Clothing
Foreign seafarers come from warmer countries and often do not have warm clothing. Used clothing is available for the seafarers to take. A drop-off box is provided outside of the Seafarers' Centre for the public to drop clothing off.

Library
Used magazines and paperback books are available for the seafarers to take. A drop-off box is provided outside of the Seafarers' Centre for the public to drop books and magazines off.

Postage Stamps
Keeping seafarers in touch with their family is an important part of what we do. Seafarers may purchase stamps and post mail at the Seafarers Centre.

Fax/Photocopy
Seafarers may send a fax from the Mission. Seafarers are charged $0.25 for a long distance fax within Canada and the U.S., and $0.50 to all other countries. A fax within Thunder Bay is no charge. Seafarers may obtain copies of documents at the Centre.

Worship
If the crew requests a Eucharist or mass and it is not possible for them to walk to a church, arrangements may be made to take the crew to a church or have a service on board with a Roman Catholic priest or the Chaplain.

Hospital Visiting
When a seafarer is hospitalized the chaplain and volunteers will visit the seafarer and provide whatever assistance possible. If his or her ship sails, the seafarer is flown home after discharge.

Christmas Gift Bags
Donations such as mittens/gloves, playing cards, hand-held games/puzzles, small unbreakable Christmas ornament; or wrapped candy or gum may be brought to the Seafarers' Centre no later than the last Monday in November. A Christmas tree is set-up at the Centre during December and gift bags are made up and placed under it. Click here for further information

Ministry of Bible Distribution
A seafarer, Honesto sits in his cabin. It has been 2 weeks since the ship left port. A storm has ragged for 3 days. Honesto is tired from long watches. The crew are not getting along.

Honesto opens his Bible and reads the 23rd Psalm. The assurance that God is with him helps him to go and do another watch. A Bible offers comfort, it helps a person to discover how to deal with problems and be in relationship with Jesus Christ.

In many parts of the world Bibles are difficult to obtain. The demand outstrips the supply. For many years the distribution of Bibles was restricted in communist countries.

The Mission maintains a stock of Bibles in over 20 languages and each year $200 is budgeted from our Operating Fund for the purchase of Bibles. They are purchased from the Canadian Bible Society or donated by the Gideon Bible Society. Languages most commonly distributed are Tagalog (Philippine dialect), Polish, Spanish and Ukrainian. Many a seafarer has walked out of the Seafarers' Centre with a smile on his or her face because of the gift of a Bible.

Churches or groups may wish to purchase Bibles or donate money to purchase Bibles in particular language.