During the 1880s, large numbers of immigrants arrived to work the seafood industry. Bishop Gunn, the Bishop of the Catholic Dioceses of Natchez, began to take notice of these seafood laborers and the fact that most were Catholic. He also realized that the spiritual and physical needs of the seafood families were not being cared for by the Mother Church. He urged Father Alphonse Ketels, Pastor of Nativity B.V.M. Church of Biloxi, to open a mission church and a school to be run by religious and serviced by Nativity’s priest. In 1907 St. Michael the Archangel Mission was opened on Point Cadet. This would be the beginning of the fishermen’s church.  In the fall of 1917, Bishop Gunn declared St. Michael a parish. Father Francis H. Hildebrand was the first pastor of St. Michael.

   By the 1900s Slavic, Bohemian, and Cajun immigrants were living on The Point, and Biloxi’s Back Bay. In the early 1920s, Bishop Gunn turned his attention to Biloxi Back Bay. Land was purchased from Mr. William Gorenflo. St. John Church was organized in 1921 and the new church was dedicated on December 18, 1921. Father Patrick J. Carey was appointed pastor of St. John and Sacred Heart Parish. Sacred Heart Catholic Church parish had been established in 1859 in the Seymour Community in North Biloxi.  This is present day City of D’Iberville and St. Martin communities. North Biloxi’s fishing families were made up of descendents of colonial French and Spanish families.

   The arrival of these immigrants would also usher in many traditions that had their historical roots hundreds of years ago in coastal European and Mediterranean communities. The communities of North Biloxi, Back Bay and The Point would come together to create one of the most beloved traditions, The Blessing of the Fleet.

   The first Blessings took place on the Sunday morning of August 11, 1929. The Daily Herald reported that two “impressive ceremonies” were held on North Biloxi shore and Point Cadet. The D’Iberville Blessing took place on the old Sacred Heart Church property just east of Central Avenue. The boats had been anchored on the outside of the island that sits south of the property. Father P.J. Carey, Pastor of St. John and Sacred Heart Catholic Churches, conducted the ceremony. Hundreds had gathered on the shore to watch the various sized vessels. Mass was celebrated on a specially constructed altar with both St. John’s and Sacred Heart choirs singing. It was noted that Ave Maria was sung by William J. Giblin and Ave Maria Stella was sung by Mr. Giblin and Dr. Seymour of the Veteran Hospital.

After the services Father Carey and his assistant Father P.J. Quinn began blessing the vessels by walking from boat to boat. Unfortunately Father Carey slipped during one of the crossings and dislocated his shoulder.  He was carried to Biloxi Hospital and Father Quinn completed the blessings. 

   On Point Cadet the Blessing ceremony was conducted by Father Hildebrand of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. An altar had been set up on Dunbar Dukate factory pier. The St. Michael’s choir was located on a boat tied to the pier. The church’s organ had been moved to the pier and was played by Miss Marguerite Wink. Miss Wink was accompanied by Judge J.B. Wink and George Dubaz on violins. 

   Father Hildebrand celebrated the Mass with Father McDonnell, a missionary priest, assisting him. After the services Father Hildebrand and Father McDonnell began going from boat to boat blessing all.

   Through the years the local celebration has changed in different ways but, the blessing of the boats, fishermen, and their families has remained constant. The act of blessing the fleet has been accomplished in a variety of manners. During the earliest blessings, the priest actually climbed from boat to boat as they were assembled close to the shore or were rafted next to a pier. Today the vessels pass in front of the Blessing Boat to receive the blessing.

   Beginning with the first blessing in 1929, the local fishing fleet was blessed in both North Biloxi, present day D’Iberville, and Point Cadet in Biloxi. Then in 1947 a single event took place in the vicinity of the Coast Guard base on Biloxi’s Point Cadet. Before being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Point Cadet Plaza, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, and J.L. Scott Marine Education Center  occupied this property. Yet, the evolution was not completed until 1953. The Blessing took its present day form when a Blessing Boat was anchored adjacent to the channel off Biloxi’s Central Beach and working boats paraded down the channel to be blessed.

   Since the initial blessing in 1929, a number of festive activities have been added, some removed, and others changed. These have included street parades, “Faire Dodo” dances, awards for best decorated vessels, and the naming of a king and queen. The translation of The Faire Dodo Dance is “Faire” to make and “Dodo” to sleep.  So it simple means to go to sleep. Well what does that have to do with a street dance? We have to visit the Cajun culture in south Louisiana to get to the bottom of this mystery. The first “festival” took place in 1952. Then in 1955 the first official “Biloxi Shrimp Festival” was held in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet.

   In south Louisiana during the horse and buggy day private and public dances were held just about every weekend.  Everyone from the grandparents to the small children attended the event.  All brought food for a kind of potluck supper which was followed by the dance.  The elders would visit and gossip but the babies were put to sleep or “Faire Dodo.”  It was a chance for single young folks to socialize but the young women and girls were strictly chaperoned.

   Beginning in 1948, a Shrimp Queen was selected to reign over the Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival. The Shrimp Queen is chosen from contestants whose family is/was in the seafood industry and sponsored by organizations which have strong ties to the seafood industry, local seafood processors, and families. The first Queen crowned during the 1948 festival was Gloria Meaut. Then in 1956, the first “Shrimp King,” was chosen  to rule with the Shrimp Queen. The king was chosen from men long associated with the seafood industry. The 1956 King and Queen was Luka Kuljis & Marjorie Dukate.

   One of the Blessings of the Fleets most solemn moments occurs during the casting of a wreath into the water in memory of deceased fishermen. By this act, the tossing of a floral commemorative wreath into the Biloxi Channel, the Blessing honors all deceased coastal fishermen. In recent years the wreath has been tossed into the channel from a hovering helicopter.

   For as long as I can remember the Blessing of the Fleet announced the opening of shrimp season in Mississippi waters. As a boy this event occurred the first of August then moved to the first of June. I can remember serving as an altar boy for the event. Father Herbert Mullins, Pastor of St. Michael Church, would conduct the blessing and was usually assisted by another priest. Every altar boy wanted to be picked for the Blessing but it was usually the older boys who were chosen.

   Since many of my family were fishermen I have attended the event for numerous years. Most fishermen and their families would head to one of the barrier islands for a full day of fun. They would then return to join the parade and have their boats and families blessed. During the early years the blessing was as important to the fisherman and his family as Christmas, New Years, Easter, and the 4^th of July. It started the new season with Almighty God’s blessing and at the same time was a time for family and friends.

   The Annual Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival has been sponsored by the combined efforts of the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, The Slavic Benevolent Lodge, the Fleur de lis Society, and the City of Biloxi. To this day the Blessing of the Fleet continues to be an important part of Biloxi’s coastal culture and history.