[StBernard] Sixty-third Annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet Observed in St. Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

Sixty-third Annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet Observed in St. Bernard
Parish 

 

The Reverend John Arnone, Canonical Pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church
and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in eastern St. Bernard Parish,
presided over the 63rd annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet on Saturday,
July 31, 2010.  Father Arnone and a delegation of parish elected officials
including Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr., Councilman at Large Wayne
J. Landry, and United States Senator David Vitter rode in skiffs blessing
fishing boats in Delacroix, Alluvial City, Yscloskey, Shell Beach and
Hopedale. Cecile J. Robin, a parishioner of St. Bernard Catholic Church,
served as chairman of the arrangements committee for the Blessing of the
Fishing Fleet.

 

Father Clemens Schneider initiated the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet in this
parish in 1947 during his pastorate at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
in Violet.  This tradition traces its origin to Saint Peter the Fisherman,
the acknowledged founder of the Catholic Faith.  The traditional boat
parade, luncheon and festivities sponsored by St. Bernard Catholic Church
were dispensed with this year because of the oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico.

 

Parish President Craig Taffaro said that the Blessing Ceremony was perhaps
more poignant than ever. "The future safety of our fishermen, the
communities in which they live, and our fisheries, all face a new and
potentially overwhelming threat.  We must seek God's blessings on this
important element of our cultural heritage and local economy" said President
Taffaro.  

 

St. Bernard Parish Government, Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society and
The St. Bernard Historical Society also supported the 2010 Blessing of the
Fishing Fleet. In addition to President Taffaro, St. Bernard Parish
Councilmen Wayne Landry and Mike Ginart as well as U.S. Senator David Vitter
attended the event to support the local fishermen. 

 

For more information about the growth and recovery of St. Bernard Parish,
visit www.sbpg.net <http://www.sbpg.net> .

 

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