ASHTABULA — A wreath of fresh flowers will be cast into the Ashtabula River Saturday with a prayer at the 59th annual Blessing of the Fleet.
The traditional processional will begin with the 5:30 p.m. Celebration of Mass at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, 1514 W. Sixth St.
Following Mass, a procession will start from the church and end at the public dock by the Ashtabula lift bridge. Two students from Ss. John and Paul High School will carry the all-natural wreath. Local Boy Scouts also will participate.
The Knights of Columbus Honor Color Guard will display the American flag as the U.S. Coast Guard assists in the blessing of the boats.
“We’re going to have more children involved this year and two priests from the three Catholic churches participate,” said Rosemary Bernato, co-chair of the event. “We are planning for good weather and we planned it for a Saturday to see how the turnout will be. We’re hoping for a great turnout this year.”
The Blessing of the Fleet is a long-standing tradition in the Ashtabula Harbor. The prayer service began in the 1930s when a priest at the Mother of Sorrows Church decided to send sailors and shipmasters off for a season of shipping on the Great Lakes with the faith of a safe return. The ceremony also officially opens the boating season on the dock.
The service is usually well-attended, with people gathering by the river to watch the ceremony, which includes music.
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