Stonington's Blessing of the Fleet Festival

 Stonington's Blessing of the Fleet Festival The 61st annual Blessing of the Fleet will be celebrated on Sunday, July 27th, 2014, in Stonington Borough, to honor and remember those who have died at sea on our local commercial fishing fleet, as well as to honor and bless the vessels--along with their captains, owners, crews and families--that will go out to sea in the year ahead.The festival is predominantly a Catholic ritual facilitated by St. Mary Church, the Bishop of Norwich and local pastors, who will be part of the parade along with Stonington Town and Borough officials, Southern New England Fishermen and Lobstermen’s Association, Portuguese Holy Ghost Society, Our Lady of Fatima Society, Knights of Columbus, Stonington Men’s Walking Group, the Westerly Band, Captain Kidd and the Free Men of the Sea, Stonington Firemen representatives, and other organizations and community members.  The parade begins at St. Mary Church after the 10:30 AM Mass service and culminates at the town docks.  The Blessing festival continues from noon to 4:00 PM with foods, live music by Country Misfits, and miniature golf, all of which is open to the public.The Blessing of the Fleet is modeled on similar events that occur in countless seaport towns and cities throughout Europe, Australia and the British Isles for over a thousand years, and some legends even have its beginnings originating BC in the Greek Islands.  It is a commemorative as well as forward-looking, festive occasion, open to tourists, town residents, and families who depend on the fishing fleet as employment.The professional fishermen of Stonington were predominantly, but not entirely, Portuguese—originally from the Atlantic islands of the Azores.  During the first half of the twentieth century, the Stonington commercial fishing fleet grew in number, and in size and capacity of the vessels, from smacks to one-lungers to bunker boats to 36-foot draggers to larger 60-foot class boats, until the industry experienced limits and restrictions imposed by governance.  New rules squeezed virtually all profitability from smaller and mid-sized commercial fishing family enterprises in Southern New England.All are invited to join this ceremony, to reflect and pray for our fishermen’s safety, their continued success and evolution, and in thanksgiving for having them here in Stonington as a vibrant element of our community.For further information, contact Mike Crowley at cmcirisheyes@aol.com or Melanie at st.marychurchstonbor@comcast.net .