Hundreds gather on the beach in Daytona for Easter Sunday worship

DAYTONA BEACH — As the sun peeked over the horizon on Easter Sunday, a large crowd gathered on the beach to celebrate the rising of the Son, Jesus Christ, said Father Phil Egitto of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as described in the New Testament. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ rose on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion.

Holding Easter Sunday service on the beach at dawn is special, Egitto said.

"Symbolically, as the sun rises – the S-U-N – we think of the Son – S-O-N – rising," Egitto said. "So, yes, it is a wonderful way to connect to the symbolism of Christ's resurrection. He promises new life on a new day."

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Last year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, which organizes the Easter Sunday sunrise service, hosted the celebration at the Daytona Beach Bandshell. Organizers set chairs 6 feet apart in the enclosure to observe social-distancing protocols and said the 500-seat venue was filled.

This year, with no coronavirus restrictions, hundreds more people came to worship on the beach, possibly twice as many as last year, organizers said.

So, after weathering two years of COVID-related adjustments, including canceling the event in 2020, Sunday's service was a moment of revival for the faithful, Egitto said.

"People are coming out, coming alive after the pandemic. It's wonderful," he said.

The faithful, who joined other worshippers on the sand where waves peacefully splashed nearby, are believers rejoicing in Jesus Christ rising from the dead, Egitto said.

"We feel the power of the Holy Spirit, we feel the joy, we feel His presence, we feel that we are the body of Christ," Egitto said. "We are God's hands and feet in the world and we are that resurrected body that continues to bring good news to our world."

Hundreds of people gathered on the beach in front of the Daytona Beach Bandshell. They listened to the gospel; prayed for the needy and sick of the world, and the victims of the war in Ukraine; sang their praises; received their blessings of holy water; and participated in Communion.

Danell Castro, of San Antonio, Texas, was in town for her daughter's JROTC competition, and decided to worship on the beach so she could participate in the Easter celebration while far from home.

"The service was beautiful," Castro said. "I was telling my daughter kids would love Mass a lot better if we could do it beachside every Sunday."

Others said the sunrise service brought them closer to nature and said they were grateful for the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross.

"I think the service is a really beautiful way to give thanks," said Rita Puentes of Gainesville.

Daniel Franceschi, of Daytona Beach, said he is a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and follows the church's services.

"Today is Easter Sunday, so it's very important day for us," Franceschi said. "And the service was very beautiful, as it always is with Father Phil."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Easter sunrise service draws hundreds to the beach in Daytona