Bishop Malooly, right, is joined by more than 100 people Aug. 15 on the beach in Ocean City as he blesses the water. The group processed to the beach off of 17th street after 5 p.m. Mass at Holy Savior Church.
Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
One of the highlights for Bishop Malooly of the blessing of the water in Ocean City is the opportunity to draw passersby into a moment of reflection in a natural setting in the Diocese of Wilmington.
The annual blessing Aug. 15 on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is much like the youth pilgrimage in Wilmington and other events presided over by the bishop. It’s an opportunity to connect with Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Knight of Columbus process to the beach from Holy Savior Church in Ocean City, Md., Aug. 15, 2018. Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
“It’s one of the interesting aspects,” the bishop said of the oceanside blessing. “People just stop what they’re doing.”
As he does each year, the bishop celebrated 5 p.m. Mass at Holy Savior church and afterward proceeded to the beach two blocks east with Father Stanislao Esposito, the church’s pastor, and a gathering of parishioners and vacationers under an early evening sun.
After blessing the water, the bishop joined several dozen international students for dinner at the Father Connell Parish Center at Holy Savior. The students are part of a program that brings 1,300 students from other countries to beach towns from Rehoboth Beach to Ocean City where they work summer jobs.
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Servers feed international students at Holy Savior parish.
Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Volunteers prepare to serve dinner to international students at Holy Savior Father Connell Parish Center.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Police help the procession cross Philadelphia Avenue in Ocean City, Md.
Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Holy Savior parish hosted Bishop Malooly for feast of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 15, 2018. Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly greets international students Lazar Jokanovic of Montenegro and Ana Maria Perde of Romania during dinner at Holy Savior parish following blessing of the water in Ocean City, Md. Both students are working summer jobs in Ocean City.
Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens
Bishop Malooly, parishioners and vacationers join together on the beach for blessing of the water Aug. 15, 2018.
Dialog Photo/Joseph P. Owens