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Alder Point celebrates 60th Blessing of the Fleet

Alder Point celebrates 60th Blessing of the Fleet

Back in 1955, Eunice MacFarlane and four others sat around a kitchen table and organized the first ever Blessing of the Fleet in Alder Point.

The event included a church service and a parade of community groups and local children — little girls in fancy dresses, little boys in sailor suits and altar boys — from St. Ann's Church to the government wharf.

"The children were all so good and I used to have a great time with them," MacFarlane recalls 60 years later.

This year's time-honoured ritual is being held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

MacFarlane is the only one left of the original group. "They're all deceased now. They're gone."

MacFarlane still volunteers with the Blessing of the Fleet committee.

"Well now I can't do much, because I'm almost a cripple with my legs. I'm 91 years old, but I go down and help"

Co-ordinator Angie Penny says this is the only community event they have in the area.

"We set up some things down at the wharf, so that when we had the blessing, then we could have a community day. So everyone could get together and talk and see each other," she said.

The lobster boats will steam up the Alder Point Gut and then slowly, one-by-one, will pass by the government wharf where local clergy will sprinkle them with holy water.

The St. Ann's Church choir will sing hymns and people, including MacFarlane, will toss flowers and wreaths into the water in remembrance of those who have died.

The event will also include live music, food, children's entertainment and an antique car show.