The parishioners of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland have a story: One year, a group of fishermen decided not to get their boats blessed. That winter, Portland’s fleet hit a terrible storm out at sea. The unblessed ships made it home safely, but their nets were empty.

As for the crews that were blessed?

“They made it back in from the storm safely, and they had a full catch,” said harbor pilot Walter Russell.

The story has taken on a parabolic meaning for parishioners, but they also believe it holds truth. An old Catholic tradition, fleet blessings like the one held at the Maine State Pier on Sunday were initially intended to protect fishermen out at sea. Now, the practice has been extended to all boaters – occupational and recreational.

Sunday’s blessing brought boats big and small, from the Peaks Island Ferry and the massive Andrew McAllister tugboat to little fishing skiffs.

After a procession of local priests – led by the Rev. Seamus Griesbach – prayed over the ships, Russell made the call, and ship after ship paraded past the pier to be individually blessed.

“Today, we gather and bless these maritime vessels and those who use them for work and for pleasure,” said Griesbach, the rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

As ships passed, priests from Portland’s parishes sprinkled their occupants with holy water and repeated, “God bless you and keep you safe.”

It was the third annual ship blessing in recent years, and about two dozen worshippers and spectators joined the local clergy.

The expected thunderstorms held off long enough for the boats to parade Sunday afternoon, even though the forecast kept some from attending this year, Russell said.

But the impending weather didn’t stop boaters – or spectators like Peggy and Mark Clements, of Peaks Island, who have been coming to watch the event on the pier for all three years.

“It’s just a joyous event and something different to do on the waterfront,” said Peggy Clements, a St. Christopher’s Parish member.

Peggy Clements grew up attending fleet blessings in Boothbay Harbor, her husband said. A few years ago, the couple started asking around their church about the tradition.

Word started to spread, and Griesbach approached Russell about bringing the Blessing of the Fleet to Portland. Russell shared the idea with the fishermen he knew, who asked their networks if they’d be interested in a blessing.

“All the fisherman were like, ‘Absolutely,’ ” Russell said.

Three years later, Portland’s fishing and boating communities still come to the annual event.

“It’s an old, old tradition that goes way back, an old Catholic tradition, because a lot of the fishermen back in the day, a lot of them were Italians, so they’re all Catholic, and it was very important to them to have their boats blessed at the beginning of the season,” Russell said.

Though the blessings only took about half an hour, they left a lasting impact on the Clementses – one that Peggy Clements called “touching.”

“(The parish has) really done a very nice job, and the whole harbor shows up, and they’re pretty excited to see Father bless the fleet, and it’s a wonderful occasion,” Mark Clements said.

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