Atlantic City's Catholic churches will host the annual Wedding of the Sea Festival on Thursday.
The Parish of St. Monica will begin the day at noon in the Etess Arena at Hard Rock celebrating the Mass of the Feast of the Assumption with Bishop Dennis Sullivan, who heads the Camden Diocese.
The holy day marks the day the Blessed Mother was assumed into heaven, according to Catholic teachings.
Following Mass, a procession will travel down Pennsylvania Avenue to the beach for the Wedding of the Sea, which honors the relationship of the city and the sea, nad asks God to grant blessings for the success of the city and its communities.
The Wedding of the Sea tradition began in Venice around the year 1000 AD. The civil and religious leaders of Venice performed an annual "wedding" between the city and the Adriatic Sea on the Feast of the Ascension of Christ.
The tradition came to Atlantic City through St. Michael's Church, a historically Italian parish, which moved the celebration to the day marking Mary's assumption into heaven.
St. Michael's is part of the St. Monica Parish, along with Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Nicholas of Tolentine.
A luncheon will follow at the Hard Rock's Harvest Buffet. Tickets must be purchased for that event.
