Several parishes in the Diocese of Camden celebrate the annual 'Wedding and Blessing of the Sea.
The ceremony is popular, centuries-old rite in many European sea-coast cities and towns like Venice, as well as towns along the Jersey shore.
According to tradition, the Wedding and Blessing of the Sea commemorates an event that happened to the bishop of Cervia, Italy, who eventually became Pope Paul II. The bishop is said to have been returning to Venice by ship on the feast of the Assumption in 1455 when he became caught in a storm. It is said that the bishop calmed the storm through prayer, and by throwing his pastoral ring into the sea. [Catholic Star Herald, August 15, 2008. p.7]
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