An age-old tradition that started centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities will be recreated in Detroit on Sunday, March 10, when the annual “Blessing of the Fleet” is celebrated at Mariners’ Church of Detroit.
The Blessing of the Fleet traditionally attracts a number of captains, masters and many other uniformed personnel as well as professional and recreational boaters who simply like to honor tradition receiving the blessing for themselves, their crews, their families and their boats. It also serves as an opportunity to remember those lost on the waterways over the years. This years’ service is scheduled for March 10 at 11:00 a.m. and will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@MarinersChurchofDetroit.
Mariners’ has held the service for 60 consecutive years, although this will be the first Blessing for Rev. Todd Meyer who joined Mariners’ as its 20th pastor last summer. Mariners’ blessing tradition has served thousands of sailors throughout the years to launch a new safe and successful seafaring season.
“The Blessing of the Fleet service has grown through the years, especially since we began livestreaming it and can now reach into communities throughout the Midwest and around the Great Lakes region,” said Todd Meyer, lead pastor of Mariners’ Church. “As a ‘house of prayer for all people,’ we encourage our local parishioners and any other interested guest to bring their burgees, pennants and pennons to be blessed with a special seafarer blessing for themselves, their boats, crews and passengers.”
In addition to the service itself, and the inspirational music by Mariners’ professional choir and 4,100 pipe organ, the annual blessing includes the presentation of the Captain Lewis Ludington Award that commemorates the ongoing work of the International Ship Master’s Association. This year’s award winners are Capt. George T. Lisner and Capt. William J. Rabatsky.
Capt. Kathy McGraw will read the names of the 30 Great Lakes sailors and others who perished in Michigan waterways in 2023. During the reading, members of the Shipmasters will toll the Octorara Bell, a remnant of a ship of the same name, that now serves one purpose only: to honor fallen seamen. Octorara is an Iroquois word that means “long remembered.”
“Michigan is blessed to have such incredibly beautiful waterways, but they can also turn treacherous,” Meyer said. “We’re always excited to celebrate the new boating season and to pray for calm waters, safe passage and enjoyable journeys. We hope to have a large congregation of in-person and on-line participants join the service.”
Mariners’ Church of Detroit, a state and national historic landmark and the one of the oldest structures on the Detroit riverfront, was founded in 1842 as a place for visiting seamen from around the world to worship. Today, 182 years later, the church stands as a ‘house of prayer for all people’ and welcomes everyone who wishes to visit. The church is located at 170 E. Jefferson Avenue at the entrance to the Windsor Tunnel. Free parking is available at the Ford Auditorium Garage immediately across Jefferson Avenue from the church.
For more on Mariners’ and the Blessing of the Fleet service, please visit here.
