By Ann M. Augherton
Herald Managing Editor
(From the issue of 9/23/04)

St. Clement’s Island is a hidden treasure in the middle of the Potomac River between Virginia’s Northern Neck and Southern Maryland. Less than 90 minutes from the Capital beltway, it makes for a perfect daytrip. And for Catholics, it’s a natural tie-in to the faith.

The tiny rural community will host its annual fall Blessing of the Fleet on Oct. 2-3, a tradition that began 37 years ago. But the town’s ties to Catholicism date back much further, in fact to 1634.

It was that year that Jesuit Father Andrew White and Leonard Calvert arrived from England with 140 colonists on two boats, the Ark and the Dove. In search of religious freedom, the group made the arduous journey across the Atlantic through bad weather and a close call with a French boat. That near miss happened on the feast of St. Clement, the fourth pope, who was thrown into the sea with an anchor tied to him. When the settlers arrived in the waters of the Potomac, originally called St. Gregory’s River, they named the small island off what is now Colton’s Point for St. Clement, the patron saint of sailors, in thanks for their safe arrival in the new world.

Three weeks later, Father White celebrated what is believed to be the first Roman Catholic Mass in the colonies on March 25, 1634, the feast of the Annunciation, on the island. A 40-foot white concrete cross has marked the spot since 1934.

A water taxi runs from Colton’s Point to St. Clement’s from Memorial Day through October. While there, you can picnic, walk around the 40-acre island or just sit and listen to nature — from the breezes high up in the trees, to the crickets chirping rhythmically at your feet, to the river lapping up on the sand.

Next weekend, crowds and boats will descend on the Southern Maryland community for the traditional celebration that began as the oyster boats headed out to harvest in the fall. Organized as a fundraiser by the seventh district Optimists, the weekend-long festivities feature crafts, food, entertainment, boat rides and fireworks on Saturday, and a parade at noon on Sunday. Boats will gather on Sunday around the replica of the Dove for the boat blessing at 1:30 p.m., followed by a Living Rosary for world peace at 2:30 p.m. Msgr. Leonard Pivonka, who has appeared on EWTN, will celebrate the Mass at 3 p.m.

At Colton’s Point, a life-sized replica of the Miraculous Medal, called the Mother of Light Shrine, stands watch over the small island.

Last weekend, Millie Huseman took a scrub brush and water to the statue of Mary, as her husband, Mike, planted fall flowers around the base. The shrine is a testament to the faith of the early settlers to this region, and to Millie’s own family, as a promise she made to her dying mother. Meticulously maintained, with the history provided on nearby plaques, the shrine serves as a visible reminder of the struggle for religious freedom that brought the Europeans to this region.

Just yards away, the St. Clement’s Island Potomac River Museum offers self-guided or pre-arranged guided tours through local history often referred to as the birthplace of Maryland. Maintained by the county department of recreation and parks, the museum is nearly 30 years old. Also nearby is the Little Red Schoolhouse, which dates back to around 1820.

Although the community escaped any damage from this year’s hurricanes, if there is inclement weather this year, the festivities will be held at Holy Angels Church in Avenue, Md.

For more information contact Millie Huseman at 301/769-3167 or email mmhuseman@aol.com. The museum can be reached by calling 301/769-2222 or go to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.