Thousands attend Christmas Eve mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City
NEW YORK — A holiday tradition continued Tuesday night as thousands attended Christmas Eve mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown.
Thousands filled the pews for a 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve family mass.
The traditional midnight mass with Timothy Cardinal Dolan will be held at 12 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets are required for that mass.
St. Patrick's Cathedral will also have services all day Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve mass tradition dates back nearly 150 years
The tradition has been going on for nearly 150 years. It dates back to 1879, when the cathedral on Fifth Avenue first opened its doors.
For one of the holiest celebrations in the Catholic faith, parishioners packed the iconic cathedral for family mass. They filled the pews with candles lit, their loved ones by their sides, connected to the Divine.
"You can feel the spirit of Christmas really inside," Queens resident Daphne Esperas said.
The mass is so popular, crowds were turned away at the door.
"We can't get in for mass, so a little bummed out, but that's OK. It's still Christmas," Long Island resident Connor Kearney said.
"It was really special. We actually couldn't get a seat, so we were just in one of the chapels standing, but it was totally worth it," Brooklyn resident Anne Marie Copek said.
"This is such a tradition for us. We love coming here year after year," parishioner Louise Sorrentino said.
For Glenda Esperance, this Christmas Eve was extra special because her 12-year-old son was baptized at the cathedral.
"Sometimes we need to come back home and get rejuvenated. It was beautiful. It was really emotional. I got chills. I was really happy he was finally able to receive communion in a place he was baptized," she said.
"Annual Christmas celebration with the little one, with the family and also to commemorate the birth of Christ, our lord and savior," Long Island resident Dr. Courtney Jones said.
"I feel great since it's Christmas Eve and I got to see the Christmas tree, too," Giovanna Jones said.