Our Journey

Background

In Western culture, different Christian Churches provide support for the personal human and spiritual needs of people who, for a variety of reasons, live and work in a maritime environment. In Spain, this mission is currently carried out through the Apostleship of the Sea, which forms part of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Under the name “Stella Maris”, the Apostleship of the Sea is present in around fourteen maritime dioceses along the Spanish coastline. The first Stella Maris centre in Spain was established in the Port of Barcelona in 1927. Its founder, Fr Luis Brugada, later promoted the creation of a second Apostleship of the Sea centre in Bilbao. Today, Vigo hosts the national headquarters of the Apostleship of the Sea in Spain. Worldwide, there are more than 350 Stella Maris centres providing dedicated welfare, pastoral and humanitarian support to seafarers through the commitment of volunteers. These centres operate in 57 countries, supported by more than 1,000 chaplains and volunteers serving ports across the globe. Furthermore, various international conventions and regulations recognise the need for ports to provide welfare services to seafarers. Among them is the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and ratified by Spain in 2013. Approximately 1,500 vessels call at the Port of Castellón each year, bringing an estimated 30,000 seafarers who may come ashore during their stay. The work carried out by Stella Maris Castelló is promoted by the Apostleship of the Sea of the Diocese of Segorbe-Castellón, formally established by decree of Bishop Casimiro López on 28 July 2015. This decree created the Diocesan Secretariat of the Apostleship of the Sea, based at St Peter the Apostle Parish in El Grao de Castellón.

Stella Maris Around the World

Peter Anson, an Anglican minister serving a parish in the docklands of Glasgow, Scotland, witnessed first-hand the hardships faced by seafarers and their families. Long periods at sea, separation from loved ones and extremely low wages caused significant suffering among maritime communities. Inspired by the social work principles of Mary Richmond and later converting to Catholicism, Anson established in 1920 a centre dedicated to supporting and protecting people working in the maritime sector. Recently, Stella Maris celebrated the centenary of its foundation. The movement expanded rapidly, first throughout the ports of the United Kingdom and later to major European ports such as Liverpool, Edinburgh, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Marseille. Today, the Apostleship of the Sea is present in fourteen of Spain’s thirty-seven coastal dioceses.

Our History

The Origins of Stella Maris Castelló

In 2015, Albert Arrufat, Parish Priest of St Peter’s Church in El Grao de Castellón, was entrusted with the mission of establishing a Stella Maris centre for the Diocese. Working alongside a committed group of volunteers, negotiations led to the Port Authority granting the use of suitable premises.

First Ship Visit

At the end of March 2017, Stella Maris Castelló began its activities with a visit by volunteers to the crew of the Mastro Mitros, a Liberian-flagged general cargo vessel berthed at the Ceramics Quay. Most of the crew were Filipino seafarers.

Municipal Support Begins

The project became possible thanks to funding from the Social Welfare Department of Castellón City Council. In 2016, all five political groups represented on the Council unanimously approved financial support for a service aimed at improving the quality of life of seafarers.

Official Opening of the Centre

On 7 July 2017, the Stella Maris Centre was officially inaugurated. Located opposite the Port Gardens at the beginning of Ferrandis Salvador Avenue, the premises—covering more than 100 square metres—were completely refurbished to accommodate welfare services for seafarers.
The Centre was officially opened by the President of the Port Authority, the Mayor of Castellón and the Bishop of Segorbe-Castellón, and formally presented to the port community.

ITF Minibus for Seafarers

From that moment onwards, Stella Maris intensified its work in promoting and supporting the maritime profession.
A few months later, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Seafarers’ Trust, based in London and representing more than 700 trade unions worldwide, donated a minibus to facilitate the transport of seafarers within the port area and between ships and the city.

National Assembly Hosted in Castellón

Over the years, numerous conferences, forums and round-table discussions have formed part of our journey, helping to raise awareness of the challenges faced by merchant seafarers.
In 2019, Castellón hosted the 28th National Assembly of the Apostleship of the Sea, bringing together delegates from ports throughout Spain. This biennial event was organised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference.

Social Welfare Committee

In 2021, Stella Maris played a key role in establishing one of the first Social Welfare Committees created in Spanish ports. A national committee would later be established.
The tragic capsizing of the vessel Nazmiye Ana in May 2021, and the subsequent crisis that lasted 42 days, highlighted the importance of coordinated welfare support and became a major catalyst for this initiative.

Expansion of the Centre

In 2022, the Port Authority completed the refurbishment of the former lighthouse keepers’ residence from the Columbretes Islands.
This allowed Stella Maris to double the size of its facilities by gaining almost 200 additional square metres on the upper floor.
The new extension includes a large multi-purpose room with abundant natural light and exceptional views, a kitchenette, two toilets, showers, lockers and changing facilities for seafarers wishing to use the nearby sports facilities.
The extension also includes a meeting room, archive and library rooms, a chapel and the director’s office.
As a result, the Stella Maris Centre now occupies more than 380 square metres.

Contributions to Alfa y Omega Magazine

Albert Arrufat, Director of Stella Maris Castelló, has regularly contributed articles to Alfa y Omega, the official publication of the Archdiocese of Madrid, sharing the daily work and mission of the Centre.

Decent Work Conference

Stella Maris has participated in lectures and awareness-raising events at Jaume I University, educational institutions and social organisations.
In 2024, the Centre hosted a conference dedicated to the concept of Decent Work within the Merchant Navy.
The significance of maritime transport is reflected in remarkable figures: more than 100,000 ships sail the world’s oceans, including 60,000 engaged in international trade. Over two million seafarers work at sea, often performing an invisible yet essential role. Approximately 90% of global trade is transported by sea.
The Centre also hosted a HOAC gathering focused on “Decent Work in the Merchant Navy”, under the theme:
“Caring for Work Means Caring for Life.”

Media Coverage

The activities of Stella Maris have been featured in various media outlets, including Mediterráneo, El Mundo, regional digital newspapers, radio stations, television programmes and podcasts.

Participation in National Events

Stella Maris Castelló has actively participated in recent national assemblies held every two years, contributing presentations and workshops at meetings hosted in Cádiz (2022), Vigo (2024) and Barcelona (2026).

Premios y reconocimientos

The work of Stella Maris Castelló has been recognised through several prestigious awards:
– Cadena 100 Award (2019)
– Faro Awards (2019)
– Recognition Award from Castellón City Council (2021)