Seafarers’ Mission Offers Vital Support to Crews Arriving at Great Lakes Ports

When sailors arrive at the Port of Windsor, they look forward to and can count on receiving a

“ditty bag” compliments of the Mission to Seafarers Canada at St. John’s Anglican Church.

“It’s a welcome to Windsor that has everyday necessities being offered,” said Rector Carrie

Irwin, the co-chaplain at St. John’s along with Reverend Allison Agius.

Agius said “the mission itself provides moral, spiritual, physical and social well-being regardless

of gender, faith, rank or social status.”

The Mission to Seafarers (formerly known as the Mission to Seamen) was founded in 1856 by

the Church of England through several outreach ministries, eventually expanding to 200 ports

around the world. The Mission has been in Windsor since the 1950s, and its main outreach is to

the “salties,” the ocean-going vessels who are at sea for months-and-months at a time.

Dennis Pare, who is from LaSalle, has been a volunteer with the Mission to Seafarers Windsor

for 20 years and their treasurer for the past 16 years. He said the ocean-based ships from

faraway places like India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Croatia see Windsor as a “preferred site”

and one reason is “we have a good refueling station.”

The Port of Windsor stretches from Lake Erie to Lake St. Clair. Lots of docks from the foot of St.

John’s Church, which is on the corner of Sandwich and Brock streets, to the site of the Gordie

Howe Bridge. At one time the ships docked and stayed but now they are in-and-out within 24 hours.

“The ships only make money when they are moving,” said Pare. Not long ago, he and other

volunteers used to shuttle seafarers to places like Walmart in a 2017 Dodge Caravan minivan to

pick up supplies. Today, the sailors book appointments with Uber drivers on their mobile

devices. (The minivan is still used for running errands.)

As soon as the ships are docked, the “ditty bags” are immediately distributed to the seafarers

and according to Irwin, the mission at St. John’s is the only one to do so at least in Southern Ontario.

One of the “ditty bags” on display contained toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, body

wash, shave cream, razors, lip balm and hand cream. There were also a few snacks such as

packaged Rice Krispies squares, granola bars and fruit chews.

Prior to this interview with the “LaSalle Post” at least a hundred “ditty bags” were filled by the

board members of the mission at St. John’s. Irwin estimates 500 bags are filled every year.

“We are always coming up with ways to ensure we meet the needs of the seafarers in

meaningful ways during their short stays,” said Agius.

Due to heightened security concerns, a liaison officer representing Windsor’s shipping agencies

brings the “ditty bags” onboard the ocean freighters. Based on feedback, Agius said the

seafarers look forward to receiving them. Irwin said “once sailors find a friendly port, they want to come back.”

“We can’t visit and shake their hands, so we offer them a token of our appreciation for the time

spent away from their families,” said Pare. “It’s making them feel welcome in a foreign port.”

Agius added “welcome, but valued.”

And Irwin later added, “it’s not just limited to sweets and toothbrushes.”

“We receive very few calls, but we are on-call to offer whatever assistance we can as chaplains,” said Irwin. “We are simply there to offer a helping hand.”

Agius said, “it’s not just for the sailors,” it’s for all the people in the maritime industry which includes the Great Lakes.

“Although we are Anglicans, we support all faiths,” said Agius. “It’s become more of an interfaith mission with Christian roots.”