Two young girls collect blessed sea water at the Blessing of the Sea in Longport, Aug. 15.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT The faithful of Holy Trinity Parish processed from Epiphany Church to the ocean Sunday to pay tribute to those who make their living from the sea and in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, on the feast of the Assumption, the day she ascended into heaven.
The event attracted more than 200 people, some of whom attended 10:30 Mass, and others who came to take part in the procession, sing the Ave Maria and hear the priest recite The Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary.
Worshipers followed Fr. Pawel Kryszkiewicz and Fr. Chris Bakey to the shoreline where they boarded a Longport Beach Patrol surfboat, named for Thomas B. Byrne, with the inscription Keep the Irish in Longport. They rowed out past the waves where Fr. Kryszkiewicz tossed a wreath of white flowers into the sea.
Adults and children reached into the ocean to collect blessed sea water in little bottles to bring home to share blessings with their loved ones who may be sick, suffering or just unable to attend the annual ritual.
Resident Ann Agness, whose family has owned a home in Longport for more than 70 years, said she attends the event every year and brought the blessed water to her parents.
This is the return to the womb, she said. It brings the comfort and peace only the Blessed Mother can give.
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Debbie Russo, who has lived in Longport for the last 30 years, said the ceremony reminds her of the days of her youth in Philadelphia when she participated in the annual May procession for the Blessed Mother.
It's a profession of our faith, she said. The symbolism is beautiful and is appropriate for all faiths.
It was in 1950 that Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary as dogma in the church's belief that after her time on Earth, the Virgin was assumed into heaven body and soul. The Holy Day of Obligation is always celebrated on Aug. 15.
I've been coming since I was a little girl living in Atlantic City and attending the Wedding of the Sea held there, said Diana Castellano, who has a devotion to the Blessed Mother and is a member of the parish's Rosary Society. It's the marriage of the ocean and the sea.
Amelia McGarvey was emotional thinking about losing her father Michael Collella to cancer last year.
This is my first year without him and today is his birthday, she said. He was born in Italy and came to my house every year so he could attend the Blessing of the Sea here in Longport. He would always want to be right in front, close to the priest.
The members of the parish were invited back to Totaro Hall for refreshments.
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