ATLANTIC CITY (July 27, 2005) – Bishop Joseph A. Galante will celebrate Mass at noon here on August 15 at the Boardwalk Convention Center followed by wedding of the sea. Bishop Galante will also celebrate a ‘Vigil Mass’ at 7 p.m. August 14 at St. Ann Church, Wildwood.
After the Mass, Bishop Galante will lead a procession to a platform on the Boardwalk at Mississippi Avenue where he will pray the Litany of Mary and bless the ocean. Following the Boardwalk prayer service, resort lifeguards will take Father Bob Matysik, pastor of St. Michael Church here, in a lifeguard boat to toss a wreath into the ocean. Annually, an estimated 5,000 people attend the Mass and ‘Wedding of the Sea’, held in conjunction with the Feast of the Assumption.
Locations of the two Masses include:
Followed by
Followed by Wedding of the Sea Following the Noon Mass in Atlantic City, a statue of the Blessed Virgin will be carried in procession onto the Boardwalk at Mississippi Avenue for the traditional blessing of the sea. The Wedding of the Sea and similar festivals have been popular in Europe for centuries at cities and towns on the seacoast. Tradition holds that the custom originated in Venice centuries ago when an archbishop, at sea during a storm, threw his ring into the water while praying.
The parish has observed the annual tradition since the 1940s. The dogma of the Assumption states that the Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven, after the completion of her earthly life, since by reason of her Immaculate Conception she should not suffer the consequences of original sin.
While the Assumption was infallibly declared a doctrine of the Faith by Pope Pius XII on Nov. 1, 1950, it has a history dating back to at least the seventh century when its celebration was already established at Jerusalem and Rome. Catholics are obliged by Church law to participate in the Mass of this Holy Day or the Mass of the evening preceding.