Reflections: By The Rev. Grace Pardun
We Are Here For Whatever The Mariner Needs
By The Rev. Grace Pardun, SCI Chaplain
At the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Maritime Education (CME) in Paducah, Ky., we often welcome tour groups, students, mariners and members of the public. It’s an opportunity to share the story of SCl and explain the three primary ways we serve mariners: training, advocacy and chaplaincy.
Kelly Butts, assistant director at the CME in Paducah, always concludes our overview with a powerful reminder: “We are here for whatever the mariner needs.” As the chaplaincy leader, I hold that mission close, especially when mariners experience grief, crisis or deep personal need.
About a month ago, we lost a young deckhand who was working on the Upper Mississippi River. Alongside a chaplain associate, I provided a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debrief and grief counseling with the crew. But in speaking with the deckhand’s family and the company, I learned they needed more: someone to officiate the funeral and a space for the reception.
Without hesitation, I asked Kelly if we could host the gathering at the CME. Her response echoed the heart of our mission: “Of course! We are here for whatever the mariner needs.” At the funeral, I offered words of comfort to a grieving family and shocked crewmates. I reminded them of Jesus’ promise that, where two or more are gathered, He is present. We presented the merchant mariner flag to the deckhand’s mother, thanking her for bringing such a remarkable person into the world. Afterward, we invited everyone to the CME for barbecue and a time to share memories.
During the reception, I noticed the deckhand’s fiancée step outside toward the river. A storm was approaching. Dark clouds and heavy rain loomed. But suddenly, the sky opened up, and the brightest rainbow I have ever seen stretched across the water, spanning from a towboat to a barge. The young woman turned to me and said with tears in her eyes, “He’s OK. He’s telling me he is OK.”
In the days that followed, both the maritime company and the family expressed deep gratitude for our support. Truly, this is our mission. It’s what we do. “Whatever the mariner needs.” In this case, we offered space. A space for grieving, A space for remembrance. A space for presence, for peace and, perhaps, for the Spirit to work.
Editor’s note: The Waterways Journal’s occasional Reflections column offers space for first-person accounts from those in and around the maritime industry. Have an idea for a Reflections column? Contact the editor at frank@wjinc.net.
