Crowds return to St. Patrick's Cathedral for Easter Mass
NEW YORK -- Crowds visited St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday to celebrate Easter Mass. For the first time in nearly three years, the pews were packed, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
Still, local health officials have been urging people to wear masks at holiday gatherings this weekend and get tested for COVID beforehand.
In 2020, services were forced to go virtual. In 2021, the cathedral's doors were open, but capacity was capped at 50 percent.
Sunday, parishioners were not just celebrating the return of Christ, but also resurrecting hope in their own lives.
"Life over death, life over COVID, life over all the things that happened," Anita Fildes said.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan rejoiced in welcoming everyone back after two years of virtual services and capacity limits.
A Blessed Easter Sunday morning, everybody! I'm outside @StPatsNYC right now getting ready for Mass. pic.twitter.com/ODmK9kq39V
— Cardinal Dolan (@CardinalDolan) April 17, 2022
In his homily, Dolan spoke of a brighter future.
"Even the flowers are coming out of the tomb. The death of winter is over. Spring is here," Dolan said.
Outside the cathedral, one of the city's quintessential Easter traditions made a comeback. People decked out in outrageous bonnets and hats clogged traffic on Fifth Avenue for the annual Easter Parade.
"I'm glad that we are back and everybody is out dressed up with their beautiful bonnets. I'm just so happy," Joanna Colon of Brooklyn said.
Easter's symbolism rang especially true for Terry O'Hare, who was visiting from Scotland to celebrate the birth of his grandson.
"We are hopeful for some peace in the world, particularly in Europe and Ukraine," said O'Hare, who worries his grandson was born into a world of strife.
On a holiday focused on rebirth and renewal, the faithful were eager to turn a new page.
"It's a new beginning. He has risen, and I'm hoping that all of us rise as well and that we become better people," Jeanne Davis from the West Village said.
Also in the city, Robert Brennan marked his first Easter as the Bishop of Brooklyn.
Mass was held Sunday morning at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint James, where parishioners attended in-person and virtually.
Bishop Brennan was installed in November as the leader of 1.5 million Roman Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens.
Gov. Kathy Hochul attended mass at the Christian Cultural Center.