THE SPIRIT of Christmas was truly alive at this year’s Mission to Seafarers Christmas Thanksgiving service in Sydney held on Saturday, 29th November.
Image: Lindsay Reed / DCN
The celebration brought together members of the maritime community to acknowledge partners, volunteers and supporters whose efforts have helped more than 10,000 seafarers from over 70 nations throughout 2025.
Four Filipino seafarers from the Hansa Homburg attended the event to personally thank the Mission for the assistance they had received during an unexpectedly long stay in Sydney for ship repairs.
Guests listened to several moving accounts of the Mission’s work during the year, including the story of Filipino seafarer, Liberato, who endured a terrifying medical emergency at Sydney Airport, and was later diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Rev Un Tay and the Mission chaplains provided support throughout his treatment and until he was reunited with his family in the Philippines.
The celebration was also an opportunity for the Mission to formally thank its key partners, including the SBU, Port Authority of NSW, and NSW Ports, and present gifts to volunteers whose daily support makes frontline care possible.
Following the formal presentation, guests got into the spirit of the season by singing carols, accompanied by Rev Tay on the piano, before enjoying refreshments and networking.
In the spirit of Christmas, Mission to Seafarers is inviting the maritime community to support their caring work by entering its Christmas Raffle. The prize — a Sydney Harbour trip for four aboard the Burra, a purpose-built marine firefighting and response vessel — has been generously donated by the Port Authority of NSW.
Tickets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/25Burra and will be drawn on 18 December.