Dularge boat blessing set for Sunday

Educational pioneers get their due
April 20, 2016
Chopper drill at Thibodaux Regional
April 20, 2016
Educational pioneers get their due
April 20, 2016
Chopper drill at Thibodaux Regional
April 20, 2016

One of the bayou region’s lesser known but highly spirited events in anticipation of a new shrimp season is scheduled to be held Sunday, and organizers are hoping their neighbors will come join with them for prayers, a boat blessing and an abundance of fresh food.


St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 3027 Bayou Dularge Road, Theriot, has scheduled its Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Fleet to begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The 10:30 a.m. prayer service will be followed by a boat blessing and fund-raising crawfish boil.

Traditional boat blessings were held in Dulac was held last week and Chauvin the week before that. The Dularge boast blessing was some years ago held in August, at the start of Louisiana’s white shrimp season. But in recent years the event has been scheduled during April, prior to the start of the brown shrimp season. The start day for brown shrimp will be set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries early next month.

While the April boat blessing at St. Andrew’s is relatively new, the tradition of caring for members of the community by the church is anything but, said Episcopal Diocesan spokeswoman Karen Mackey.


“For over 100 years, St. Andrew’s has been ministering to the needs of those down the bayou,” Mackey said. “The Blessing of the Fleet dates back generations. The shrimp boats are gaily decorated with flags running up the masts and their horns are blaring as they caravan up the bayou.”

Boat blessing