The sinking of the Titanic on her maiden voyage in April 1912, with the loss of over 1,500 lives, was a major sea tragedy, reported world-wide.

But there are many other tragic events at sea that we never hear about. Yet they are no less tragic for that.

Today is Sea Sunday, when the Church remembers with gratitude, and prays for all who work at sea.

Living as we do on an island, we know that without sea-farers, the U.K. would starve!

But the conditions faced by seafarers themselves are for the most part hidden and unknown.

Typically recruited from poorer countries where wages are lower, seafarers can work up to one year at a time away from their homes, families and children.

They can suffer loneliness, dangerous working conditions and even exploitation as they work to bring us the goods and food we need to sustain our standard of living.

The Apostleship of the Sea is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain.

It deploys priests, chaplains and ship visitors in ports up and down the country who welcome seafarers as brothers and sisters, whatever their nationality or creed.

It provides for their practical and pastoral needs. Some sixty percent of seafarers are Catholics, and these are given the opportunity to attend Mass and the sacraments.

All this ministry and work is placed under the protection of Our Lady, Star of the Sea - Stella Maris.

The collection as we leave Mass today, taken up in all the churches in this country, is our gift to support and sustain this ministry and work.

For those who wish, there are special 'Gift-Aid' enveopes available at the back of the church.