Historic Blessing of the Fleet, Sunday Service
Join Saint Raphael’s Episcopal Church & the Fort Myers Beach Shrimping Fleet for a traditional Sunday mass service followed by the historic blessing of the fleet.
- This event has passed.
Blessing of the Fleet
March 15 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Order of events:
Once again, St. Raphael’s Church will be involved in the Blessing of the Fleet on March 15, 2026. This is a religious ceremony rooted in the maritime tradition of praying for the safety of the crews, a bountiful season, and protection over the boats and the industry. The Blessing begins at 10 AM with a service on the shrimp docks which includes prayers, songs, and readings. After the service, the Bishop will walk along the docks and individually bless each boat with holy water.
What began as a simple blessing in the late 1950s evolved over the decades into the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival — a much larger, two-day community celebration that still features the Blessing of the Fleet as a key event each March.
This year, the Blessing is scheduled for a week after the Shrimp Festival and will include an opportunity for all watercraft to receive a Blessing. After blessing the docked shrimp boats, the Bishop will board a private vessel and will bless any private or commercial craft that drives by. The Bishop’s boat will be in the area around the bridge. We encourage all boaters to come out, receive a blessing, and enjoy the beautiful waters surrounding our island.