The traditional Blessing of the Fishing Waters was part of opening night at the 106th Fisherman’s Feast in Honor of Madonna Del Soccorso Di Sciacca. Starting at the Fisherman’s Club and feast chapel on Lewis Street, the statue of the Madonna was carried by society members to Boston Harbor along Commercial Street and Atlantic Avenue to Christopher Columbus Park.
Once at Christopher Columbus Park, Father Claude from St. Leonard Church blessed the Fishing Waters on the site of the former Italian fleet in Boston Harbor. Family members of those who passed in the last year also spoke at the ceremony. A large crowd filled the park for the ceremony that concluded with the the throwing of flowers into the harbor.
The Fisherman’s Feast is the North End’s oldest continuously running Italian festival. View more photos here.
Photos by Matt Conti. View more photos here.