Messages from the Faith Community

Since 2004, the Merchant Navy Veterans Day ceremonies, held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, have been attended by military chaplains, and a representative from the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada, to conduct the opening prayer, the blessing, and to provide other related faith-based services.

Starting in 2005, the late Father Thomas Cassidy attended many of our national events on behalf of the Apostolic Nunciature, and he participated in our laying of wreaths ceremony, in memory of our Merchant Navy Veterans.

On 12 June 2015, our Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Brian Graham, sent a letter to the Holy See asking His Holiness Pope Francis for a special dedication of prayers on behalf of those members of the Merchant Navy who lost their lives in the service of their countries during World War II.

Please select:  Letter to the Holy See for further viewing.

On September 1, 2015, a letter was received from the Apostolic Nunciature announcing that His Holiness Pope Francis would include a special remembrance in his prayers for the souls of the men and women who lost their lives serving their countries in the Allied Merchant Navy.  In his historic address, Monseigneur Maurizzio Bravi, P.H., Chargé d’Affairs, from the Apostolic Nunciature, announced, in the name of the Holy Father, this special benediction:

“Approaching the day of the commemoration of the sacrifices of the Canadian Merchant Navy, in the name of the Holy Father, I wish to assure you and all the present members, of a special remembrance in his prayers for the souls of the men and women who lost their lives serving their countries in the Allied Merchant Navy during the Second World War.”

“Commemorating the 70th anniversary of that worldwide conflict, Pope Francis expressed the wish and the hope that the entire human family, learning from the tragedies of the past and faced with the current conflicts around the world "may persevere in the search for the common good and in promotion of a culture of peace" (General Audience - May 6, 2015).”

Please select Pope Francis Blessing for the Allied Merchant Navy to read His special message.

In his letter of introduction, the Rev. Dr. Brian Graham, MTh, DDiv, Principal Chaplain for the Allied Merchant Navy, provides a brief overview of how important chaplaincy is to the regular armed forces and merchant marine.

Please select Message from the Chaplain for more information.

The Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP) is committed to upholding long held military traditions in honoring Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine Veterans. We have always been proud to have our military chaplains attend our remembrance ceremonies, and we will always ensure that our observances remain sacrosanct.

“We must never forget that the peace that we enjoy around us today is the result of their supreme sacrifice.”

Padré Paul-Alain Monpas

THE NAVAL HYMN