Who We Are

​

Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) was founded in Glasgow in October 1920, and it is now the largest Catholic network serving ship visitors in the world. It also offers pastoral, social, and practical support to those in the maritime industry. Pope John Paul II, in his motu proprio "Stella Maris on the Maritime Apostolate," affirms the importance of offering special pastoral attention to specific groups engaged in the maritime industry, such as seafarers and fishers. With this intention, the Diocese of Cadiz and Ceuta has initiated the ministry of Stella Maris.

The diocese is located along the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world’s busiest waterways, which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Approximately 300 ships cross the strait every day, equating to one ship every five minutes. Among the many ports in this area, the ports of Cadiz, Ceuta, and Algeciras are the most significant within the diocesan pastoral territory. Among these three ports, Algeciras is considered one of the most important not only in Spain but also in Europe, accommodating almost 29,000 ships every year.

In these maritime movements, there are certainly people who need pastoral, social, and practical assistance. In response, the Diocese of Cadiz and Ceuta has begun the process of opening and establishing Stella Maris Centres. We aim to let the people of the sea feel that with Jesus and Mother Mary, the Star of the Sea, “There are no strangers, only people we have not yet met.”​

​