theuniverse

Sunday January 22, 2012 www.totalcatholic.com

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New blue Darron Gibson seeks midfield glory

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Downton’sa global success Page 26

Premiership midfielder Darron Gibson has swapped red for blue, moving from Manchester United to Everton. The 24 year old, who was a pupil at St Columba’s RC Grammar school in Derry, played his first match with Everton last week, and is hoping the move will reignite his career, which has seen his game compared to Roy Keane’s. Darron says the move came after his increasing frustration over a lack of regular games with United.

Disaster liner chaplain hails ‘exemplary’ crew

By Tara Holmes

The crew of stricken cruise liner The Costa Concordia were hailed this week for their bravery by the Church’s frontline support service for seafarers.

John Green, of the Apostleship of the Sea in London, said the selfless actions of hundreds of crew had helped to save thousands of lives after the ship sank off the Italian coast last Friday night. Mr Green told TheUniverse: “Our chaplain on board said the crew conveyed themselves in an exemplary manner. He joined the crew to help passengers, including the wounded, to reach the port of Savona where the Apostleship of the Sea worked with Caritas and other agencies to distribute blankets, clothes and food and provide spiritual and emotional support.”

Mr Green said the local Catholic parish church on the island of Giglio, where the ship sank, also opened its doors to welcome survivors. “Passengers needed someone they could sound off to and have a cry with,” he said.

Fr Giacomo Martino, national director of the Apostleship of the Sea in Italy, who was this week helping to co-ordinate rescue efforts at the port, said: “The work of cruise chaplains on board is of great value to encourage and support crew and passengers at difficult moments.

“The crew worked to save passengers with great generosity and a spirit of selflessness.”

As TheUniverse went to press, 11 people were known to have died in the disaster. Another 24 people were still missing.

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Waterboys are back in town Page 27

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