From Newsworks.org > Atlantic City wouldn’t be what it is without the Atlantic Ocean. From the flashiness of the Prohibition Era through its status as the gambling capital of the East Coast, Atlantic City’s top draw has always been its status as an exciting seaside resort town.
That fact is not lost on the city’s Catholic leaders, who get together every August to bless the ocean and celebrate its intimate bond with the city. It’s a thousand-year-old Italian tradition that started when leaders held a mock wedding between the Mediterranean Sea and Venice, a naval and commercial power.
“Think about how Venice has canals instead of streets,” said the Rev. Jon Thomas, pastor of the citywide parish of St. Monica in Atlantic City.
Per the tradition, this year the festivities began with a Mass inside Boardwalk Hall attended by more than 2,000 faithful.