Boat after boat lined up in the Biloxi Channel to be blessed at this year’s 92nd annual Blessing of the Fleet. Vessels sailed through the Biloxi Channel to be blessed by Holy Water and graced by royalty like the Shrimp King and Queen. Every year, the crown is passed on and this year’s King is […]
Past kings and queens as well as the 2021 Shrimp Queen contestants helped to reveal the official poster for the 92nd annual Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet.
Wednesday, 5 May 2021, 5:07 pm
Photo:
John Paul Pochin
Nelson’s annual
Blessing of the Fishing Fleet is scheduled for Saturday 15
May at noon on Wakefield Quay.
This is the 20th year
the blessing has been held, and organiser and Seafarers’
Memorial Trust spokesman Mike Smith says it’s an event
that has won a place on the Nelson calendar and in
people’s hearts.
“Blessings like this have been
held in ports around the world for centuries, but this event
is unique in New Zealand – the sea and fishing are such an
integral part of our Nelson community,” he said. “It’s
Shrimp boat blessings return after a year lost to COVID
SCOTT YOSHONIS, The Courier
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Decorated boats glide down Bayou Little Caillou in Chauvin, La., for the Blessing of the Fleet on April 24, 2016. (Chris Heller/The Courier via AP)Chris Heller/AP
CHAUVIN, La. (AP) Annual shrimp boat blessings will return to the bayous of Terrebonne and Lafourche in coming weeks after being canceled or curtailed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a decades-old tradition, Catholic churches in fishing communities throughout south Louisiana lead the blessings in hopes of a safe and prosperous shrimp season.
This year, the Rev. Antonio Speedy of Holy Family Catholic Church said the Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou Grand Caillou will look more like normal but will still have to keep the pandemic in mind.