BLESSING OF THE CENTER
Some time ago, Michael Doyle was appointed by Bishop DiMarzio to be
Chaplain of the Ports of Camden. Great numbers of seafarers come into
Camden’s two ports every year. Their lives are confined and lonely and
they have been severally restricted since September 11, 2001.
The Apostleship of the Sea is a world-wide Catholic ministry to seafarers. They arrive at the ports of the world without welcome or appreciation except for the efforts of religious groups to serve them. Great work has been and is being done for seafarers by the Seamen’s Institute of Philadelphia, a service of the Episcopal Church since 1849. The Camden Seafarers’ Center will be shared by the Seamen’s Institute of Philadelphia. The building at the Broadway Terminal of the Port was requested by the Camden Diocese and generously provided by the South Jersey Port Corporation through the good efforts of Joe Balzano, C.E.O. of the Camden Ports. The renovation of the building was carried out by Don Harle with help from Michael Cook with communication lines, etc. The cost was borne by Sacred Heart.
Jack M. Mudge, CEO of the Seamen's Church Institute, Msgr. Michael Doyle,
Bishop DiMarzio, Joe Balzano, Executive Director of the South Jersey
Port Corp.
Rosemarie McBride, Joe Balzano, and Bishop DiMarzio in the chapel before the new stained glass window
The artist who created the stained glass window, Nidia M. Rivera-Mezalick
and Joe Balzano