STONE HARBOR - This year the 16th Annual Nuns’ Beach Surf Invitational will be held on Sat., Sept. 17 at the beach in front of the Villa Maria by the Sea retreat house in Stone Harbor. Sister James Dolores and the sisters of Villa Maria host the surf competition for the surfers who, years ago, bestowed the name Nuns’ Beach to this spot in Stone Harbor. After years of riding the waves there, in 1996 local surfers decided to give back to the Sisters by organizing a competition to raise funds to maintain the stately Villa Maria by the Sea.

The pact between surfer and nun in Stone Harbor was forged more than 60 years ago when local surfers approached the beachside retreat asking if they could ride the waves in front of the retreat house. The nuns own the pristine, block-long strand. The nuns warmly greeted the surfers and the swath of surf was soon dubbed Nuns’ Beach. The sisters often sit on the beach and even draw spiritual inspiration watching the wave-riders.

“It’s very peaceful,” said Sister James Dolores, 73, the retreat’s property manager. “You see how the water holds them up, balances them and if you ride with the water, it will get you where you want to go. That’s how it is with the grace of God.”

The Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Order hosts this annual contest with proceeds going to the maintenance of the 150-bedroom beachfront retreat.

The competition is for all levels, and Commemorative Nuns’ Beach Surf Contest T-shirts as well as other items are available at Pete Smith's Surf Shop (96th St. in Stone Harbor) and at the convent on 111th St. The contest runs from 7:30 am to 3 pm and registration is $35. For more info call 368-5290 or email Sister James at: srjames@snip.net.