As Stonington has done for over 60 years, the St. Mary community will celebrate the annual Blessing of the Fleet. This is to honor present and past commercial fishermen, lobstermen and their families. The traditional celebration returns this year.
THURSDAY, July 27 at 6 p.m.: The 2023 Blessing of the Fleet 5K Race is an in-person timed race through historic Stonington Borough. The certified course starts and ends at the Town Dock, 1 High Street, Stonington. You can also choose to register for a non-competitive 2-mile walk.
Register today: www.runreg.com/blessingofthefleet5k
SATURDAY, JULY 29 from 4-8 p.m.: The Stonington Holy Ghost Society will host a gathering of family and friends to celebrate the Blessing. There will be live music and an assortment of delicious Portuguese foods, plus hamburgers and hot dogs.
SUNDAY, JULY 30
The annual Blessing of the Fleet will take place beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 30, at St. Mary Church 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.
Following the 10:30 Mass, a parade will take place through Stonington Borough that will include the statue of Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. A procession of boats will make their way past the breakwater in Long Island Sound and a wreath in the shape of a broken anchor will be cast into the sea.
The Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, will bless the floral anchor commemorating the 39 members of the Stonington Fishermen Association who perished at sea while doing their jobs.
At the dock there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, chowder, chourica rolls and soft drinks available for sale, 12-4 p.m., and live music.