Shrimp Dinners—St. Raphael’s is well known for its “All You Can Eat” shrimp dinners. Each year, we have a shrimp boil with baked beans, homemade cole slaw, corn bread, and cake. This is served with complementary wine or beer. Once we get our kitchen put back together, we will start these dinners again. I am looking for shrimp dinner photos and will ask people to send some if they have them.

Blessing of the Fleet- In the 1950s and 60s, there were at least four different fish houses operating out of San Carlos Island. It was not uncommon to see four or five boats rafted together all along the waterfront. Once each year, the entire island would gather to spend a weekend celebrating the shrimping industry. The shrimp festival would kick off on a Sunday when the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese would arrive to bless the fleet.

St. Raphael’s has sponsored the Blessing of the Fleet since 1952.



This year, the tradition continued at the shrimp docks. We had a good crowd join us for the blessing of the few boats left after Ian.

Most of the shrimpers would decorate their boats and come through the old swing bridge, parading out to the gulf side where they would be blessed from either the pier or the beach. According to the News-Press, up to 20,000 people would show up to watch the blessings.

I have photos of decorated shrimp boats to add.

The women of St. Raphael’s started making shrimp rolls to sell at the county park during the Blessing since there were few restaurants in the area at that time. These shrimp rolls became quite well known and it was not uncommon for the women to sell 2,000 rolls in one day. The Blessing has gone through many changes over the years. Presently, it is held on the first Sunday in March at the Shrimp Docks off of Main Street. This year’s Shrimp Festival is March 8 and 9.

Ashes To Go—Last year, we instituted a new tradition for Ash Wednesday. In addition to a formal church service, we also offered ashes to go to those who wanted a blessing but could not attend the service.

Father Rowe offers ashes to a visitor on Estero Blvd.

Blessing of the Animals

For many years, St. Raphael’s has held a blessing of the animals to celebrate St. Francis. This year we continued the tradition offering the blessing on a Saturday in the parish hall. In the past we have held the blessing inside the church or outside in the yard.