Bishop Dennis Sullivan will celebrate the Mass of the Assumption and Wedding of the Sea festivities on Monday, Aug. 15. at noon in Atlantic City, the highlight of the faithfuls’ three-day event commemorating the passage of the Virgin Mary into heaven, and the bond between the shore community and the Atlantic Ocean.
In years past, thousands have attended, and the crowds are expected to be possibly even larger this year.
Following the noon Mass at Boardwalk Hall (Boardwalk and Mississippi), Bishop Sullivan will join Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian and the city’s faithful in the procession to the Atlantic Ocean, where a ceremonial wreath will be tossed in its waters, asking God for blessings upon the sea and citizens.
That same day, from 12:30- 6 p.m., a festival will be held in the Saint Michael parking lot (10 N. Mississippi Ave.), with restaurant vendors, live music, children’s games, face painting, a balloon artist and more.
For centuries, the Wedding of the Sea and similar festivals have been popular in Europe at cities and towns on the seacoast. Tradition holds that the custom originated centuries ago in Venice, Italy, when an archbishop, at sea during a storm, calmed the waters by throwing his pastoral ring into its waters.
Atlantic City’s Wedding of the Sea festivities also include a 4 p.m. Marian concert at Saint Michael Church (10 N. Mississippi Ave.) on Sunday, Aug. 14, followed by a 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass of the Assumption, and 5:30 p.m. multicultural dinner in Quaremba Hall.
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, a service for Veterans will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church (1409 Pacific Ave). Afterward, there will be an optional tour of the church, and free lunch for veterans.
For more information on Wedding of the Sea in Atlantic City, visit www.weddingofthesea.org, or call the Parish of Saint Monica at 609-345-1878.
Other faith communities in the Diocese of Camden, as well, are hosting Wedding of the Sea celebrations.
In Wildwood, Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, Bishop Sullivan will celebrate a 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass and participate in a procession on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Saint Ann Church, 2901 Atlantic Ave.
Saint Brendan the Navigator Parish, Avalon will celebrate a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Monday, Aug. 15, at the Church of Saint Paul, 9910 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, followed by a procession to the beach.
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