In what has become an annual tradition in St. John’s, Portuguese naval officers will be welcomed to the Basilica Cathedral in St. John’s for a short ceremony to remember Portuguese fishermen that lost their lives of the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ceremony will take place at the Fatima Grotto in the Basilica Cathedral at 11 AM, Thursday, September 13.

Immediately following the ceremony the Portuguese crew and the public are invited to Mount Carmel Cemetery on Kennas Hill to lay a wreath at the grave of Portuguese fisherman Dionisio Esteves.

In 2012 at the request of a Commanding Officer in the Portuguese Navy research was initiated to find the unmarked grave of Dionisio Esteves, a 26 year old fisherman who lost his life of the coast of Newfoundland in 1966. Using photographs and film, the unmarked grave was discovered and since the discovery of the grave, Portuguese Naval officials annually host a wreath laying ceremony at the site to remember Esteves who has come to symbolize all Portuguese fishermen who have died prosecuting the fishery. Esteves was one of the thousands of Portuguese who plied Newfoundland waters as part of the crew of the Portuguese White Fleet. Estves sailed on the celebrated Santa Maria Manuela.

A memorial to the Portuguese fishermen was unveiled at the grave of Portuguese fisherman in October 2015.

Local businessman and author, Jean Pierre Andrieux  was responsible  for the idea of creating and erecting the memorial that now serves to remember all Portuguese fishermen who lost their lives fishing in Newfoundland waters.

For further information contact Jean Pierre Andrieux

jpandrieux709@gmail.com    or 753-7277.