Easter at the Beach Sunrise Service has added significance amid turbulent world events

DAYTONA BEACH — Hours before worshippers gather on the sands of the World’s Most Famous Beach for sunrise service on Easter Sunday, some two dozen members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church already will be at work setting the stage for the long-running holiday tradition.

“The work starts about 5 in the morning,” said Father Phil Egitto, who has been offering the Easter Sunday message at the beachside services for nearly three decades along the shore and at the Daytona Bandshell.

This year, he will preside at a 7:30 a.m. service on the sand behind the Bandshell, followed by a 9:30 a.m. service at the Bandshell, just behind the Ocean Walk Shoppes on Atlantic Avenue.

“There are about 25 people who make it all happen, and they are amazing,” Egitto said. “They are really committed to helping and that’s what makes their Easter gift to the community special.”

While it might be technically correct to call the church members toiling to present the sunrise service volunteers, Egitto said that term doesn’t encompass the church’s mission of “loving the God we cannot see by loving the neighbors we can.”

“We have no volunteers,” he said, “because that sounds optional. For us, it’s not optional. It’s what we are called to do.”

Easter message more meaningful than ever

After weathering two years of COVID-related adjustments, including the cancellation of the event in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, this year’s beachside services come at a time when the world is faced with another array of turbulent events.

Now more than 50 days into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia this week appears to be digging in for a drawn-out conflict, with its state media intensifying genocidal rhetoric in what some observers say could be an attempt to justify more bloodshed.

Local reaction to outbreak of war: 'My heart breaks': Residents of Volusia, Flagler counties react to Russia-Ukraine conflict

Elsewhere, tens of thousands of refugees have fled their homes in Central America, Mexico and other parts of Latin America because of wars, dictatorships, gang warfare and terrorism.

Ways to help: Here are 9 ways you can help Ukraine amid Russian invasion

Against that backdrop, the Easter message of hope tied to Christ’s death and resurrection is more meaningful than ever, Egitto said.

“In our community, especially, we connect to those who are suffering and marginalized,” he said during a break from church duties earlier this week in the prayer garden outside the Our Lady of Lourdes sanctuary. “Not every community does, but I believe this community cares a lot.

“Our people are very much feeling that pain of those who are suffering,” Egitto said. “My hope is that Easter will bring hope for peace, for an end to all violence, for an end to all suffering. We will gather with a joyous message, but with heavy hearts.”

As the holiday approached, Egitto was still forming the words for his message to Easter worshippers, with a focus on “God’s mercy, his willingness to be one with us, to suffer with us,” he said. “That’s what Easter is all about, to show us the power of his victory over death.”

Bigger crowd expected after COVID-restricted attendance last year

After COVID-related restrictions a year ago that limited attendance to 500 worshippers socially distanced at the Bandshell, a bigger crowd is expected on Sunday for the two beachside services.

A look back: 500 attend Easter Sunday service at the Daytona Beach Bandshell

Worshippers can bring their own chairs and blankets for the early service, Egitto said. Chairs will be provided for the Bandshell service. Music for both services will be provided by the church’s praise band and singers.

For the church, the annual event represents a “huge investment” that includes expenses for rental of the Bandshell and staff required to operate it, permitting and insurance, Egitto said.

Planning and setting up the beach services is supervised by Paul Thompson, the church’s operations director. It’s a process that started with initial brainstorming nearly a year in advance, well before preparations shifted into high gear about a month ago.

From the cross to be placed in the sand to the altar, candles, communion items and portable sound system, there are plenty of things to be put into place, Thompson said.

For the Bandshell service, the church expects to display an enormous print of the famed “Word of Life” mural, a landmark on the campus of Notre Dame University, where it's also known by its nickname “Touchdown Jesus.”

In addition, a staff of 18 ushers is required to greet and assist worshippers, Thompson said.

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes out there,” he said. “The list is about two pages long. Everybody has their own thing to do.

“Our role is to make sure everything is ready to go, for the music, for the sound, for the liturgy,” he said. “It's to make sure the people attending church are comfortable. I know Father Phil will do a wonderful job on the liturgy; he always does. For us, it’s the logistics.”

For Egitto, the return to a pre-COVID approach to Easter sunrise worship is a welcome change.

“I do believe gathering together is really important,” he said. “I think we found that out over the last two years with all the social separation and fear of COVID. Although we’ve gotten comfortable with not connecting, we miss the connection we had before and we long for it again.”

WHAT: Easter At the Beach, community sunrise services presented by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Sunday on the sand behind Daytona Beach Bandshell; 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Bandshell, behind Ocean Walk Shoppes on North Atlantic Avenue

ONLINE: Visit ourladyoflourdesdaytona.com for details

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Easter sunrise services on Daytona Beach unfold amid worldwide turmoil