Stonington — The commercial fishing industry, its traditions, lore, people and tragedies meshed together Sunday at the 62nd annual Blessing of the Fleet, a summertime staple that is trying to rebound after waning interest, bad weather and the depressed fishing economy threatened the event in the past.

John Gomes, the event's longtime emcee, told the few hundred people who gathered at the Town Dock during a light drizzle for the ceremony that the ceremony and festival have to survive.

“It’s our identity,” Gomes said, “to honor those fishermen lost at sea and to pray for the fishermen today that they be safe and have a bountiful catch.”

Gomes said several years ago, he felt the event was “fading” and could come to an end. But family members and supporters of the Stonington fleet revived it as both a solemn memorial ceremony and an afternoon family festival, with food tents, live music and games following the blessing.

The day started with The Most Rev. Michael Cote, bishop of Norwich, who led a special mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. The Christian connections to fishermen and the bounty of the sea were strong themes during the mass, as Cote read the Gospel story of Jesus feeding some 5,000 followers with a basket containing two fish and five loaves of barley bread.

During his sermon, Cote said he was grateful for the annual invitation to preside over the ceremony that dates back to the founding of the Diocese of Norwich. Addressing family members of lost fishermen — many of whom wore boutoneers of silk flowers — Cote said they live daily with the dangers of the sea.

“Our sympathies and our prayers are with each and every one of you as you daily face your loss,” Cote said.

Following the mass, Cote joined a procession led by the Stonington American Legion color guard and Westerly Band to the docks, where two dozen large and small commercial fishing vessels awaited his blessing.

Again drawing on Christian tradition, Cote asked Jesus — whom Cote said calmed the seas for his fishermen disciples and instructed Peter to cast his net in a certain spot for a miraculous bountiful catch — to ride with today’s Stonington fishermen on their daily travails.

As Cote walked along the docks to bless the boats with holy water, Chuck Fellows, captain and owner of the dragger boat “Charlotte and Elizabeth,” named and described each vessel, its owners and crew for Cote.

“Keep safe,” Cote shouted to members of the Emery family aboard their lobster boat.

The bishop then climbed aboard the “Neptune,” which led a parade of 10 boats to the Stonington Harbor breakwater to lay a memorial wreath for the 37 Stonington fishermen lost at sea.

A statue of St. Peter holding a fishing net was placed at the dock facing the fleet as the boats headed out for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Veteran fisherman Manuel Rezendes, 67, returns to Stonington each year for the Blessing of the Fleet. He now fishes for squid out of Point Judith, R.I. He said his grandfather, also Manuel Rezendes, drowned off Latimer Light and is on the Stonington memorial list.

Walter Roderick, owner of the lobster boat “Stacy and Geal,” counted six Roderick and DeBragga family relatives on the list. Roderick, 67, said he is among the oldest captains still operating in the Stonington fleet, and goes out about four times a week. “I used to go out every day,” he said.

He only has missed two Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies since he started fishing in 1971.

“I enjoy it,” Roderick said. “It’s a nice ceremony.”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday