LONGPORT – The Church of the Epiphany held its annual Blessing of the Sea Friday, in celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a Holy Day of Obligation that requires Roman Catholics to attend Mass, just like they do every Sunday.
Hundreds of Catholics, both residents and visitors, attended Mass at the stately yellow brick church on 29th and Ventnor avenues and afterward processed with the statue of the Virgin Mary to the beach singing the “Salve Regina,” a hymn honoring Mary, the Mother of Christ.
Longport Beach Patrol rowed Fr. Pawel out past the breaking waves.Many of the faithful attend each year filling little vials with blessed seawater, which they take home to share with loved ones who are sick, infirm or who just need a little blessing from time to time.
Members of the Longport Beach Patrol rowed pastor of Holy Trinity Parish the Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewicz out past the breaking waves where he tossed a wreath and said a prayer honoring lives lost at sea.
PROVIDED/Longport Beach Patrol rows Fr. Pawel out. past the breaking waves to honor those lost at sea.Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of the Virgin Mary as church dogma in 1950, proclaiming that Mary was assumed into heaven both body and soul.
