Historic St. Raphael’s to hold Blessing on water

Feb 7, 2012 2 min read

Historic St. Raphael’s Church will be back on the water for the Blessing of the

Fleet on Sunday, March 11.

For more than 60 years, St. Raphael’s has been an integral part of the Shrimp Festival. Originally, the bishop would only bless the shrimp fleet to ensure a good harvest; last year, however, the blessing was expanded to include all vessels, commercial as well as personal.

This year’s Blessing will take place on the water rather than at Lynn Hall Park where it was held last year. Plans for this year’s blessing call for the Bishop and his entourage to board Water Music and to circle the shrimp docks and mooring area in San Carlos Bay blessing all boats that are anchored or docked along the shore. Water Music will then lead a procession of pleasure craft and commercial vessels out to the gulf where the boat will be anchored in front of the pier.

At this time, a wreath honoring those lost at sea will be tossed into the Gulf and all boats will receive a blessing from the Bishop. The Blessing will begin on the Bay side at 2 p.m. and will end on the Gulf side when the last boat has been blessed.

For more information, contact Dean McIntosh at 281-0070.