Blessing of the Fleet closes out festival

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 21, 2024

An altar server aids Breaux during the blessing. 

The Delcambre Shrimp Festival finished off this year’s celebration with a blessing from the Rev. Buddy Breaux.

Following an early morning Mass Sunday at the Shrimp Festival Building, Breaux led the congregation outside to the fleet of ships stationed on the waterway outside the building.

Flanked by two altar servers and this year’s Delcambre royalty for the Shrimp Festival Building, Richard offered a prayer asking for protection and a bountiful harvest for this year’s shrimping season.

Standing on the edge of one of the farthest boats, Richard invoked the patron saint of fishermen St. Andrew as part of the prayer while the local faithful prayed along.

The blessing of the fleet signals the end of the Delcambre Shrimp Festival, which is in its 73rd year and offers one of the most famous shrimp celebrations in Louisiana.