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Blessing of the Waves remembers Pastor Sumo Sato and Rev. Christian Mondor, leaders in faith and surfing

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  • Duke Aipa, left, blows a conch as Rabbi David N. Young blows a shofar during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tina Toulouse, left, gives a Lei to Pastor Amy Yoon of Surf City Methodist Church before she says a few words during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

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  • Lt. Claude F. Panis, center, of HB Marine Safety plays with the Huntington Beach Lifeguard band Crew 52 during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves in Huntington Beach on Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Father Scott Borgman blesses the waves and surfers during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Members of the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, from left, Rabbi David N. Young, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Maria Khani, Muslim community, Pastor Amy Yoon, Surf City Methodist Church, Jasdeep Singh Mann, Sikh community and Bob Bolen, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wait to speak during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves in Huntington Beach on Sunday Sept. 9, 2018. This year honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfer Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti says a few words about his friend Pastor Sumo, who passed away from cancer during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor who are represented by the empty chairs.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Keynote speaker, Reverend James Pike, Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is greeted by Tina Toulouse during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Fountain Valley high school surf coach, Lisa Battig, center, receives a commendation from Huntington Beach Mayor Mike Posey and Marsha Rechsteiner, President of the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfers, Don Bigelow, center, and Don Ramsey attend the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfer, Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti, center, thanks Huntington Beach Mayor Mike Posey for the commendation during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Bob “The Greek” Bolen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints says a few words during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Jasdeep Singh Mann of the Sikh community says a few words during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Maria Khani of the Muslim Community says a few words during the 11th Annual Blessing of the Waves Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 at the Huntington Beach pier. This year the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council honors two leading spiritual figures in the surf community that passed away, Pastor Sumo Sato and Fr. Christian Mondor.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

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The Blessing of the Waves drew hundreds of people to Huntington Beach on Sunday, Sept. 9. The annual event gathers various cultures together to share religious insights and to worship one common love – the ocean.

Now in its 11th year, the event is put on by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, which aims to bring various religious groups together. A special tribute was made for two leaders in the religious and surfing community who passed away earlier this year.

Pastor Sumo Sato, who ran H20 in Huntington Beach and who died of colon cancer in March, and Rev. Christian Mondor of Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church, known as the “surfing padre” and who died the following month, were remembered with a bronze statue. It was to be placed on the pier near lifeguard tower zero.