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Easter Sunday Is the Feast of Rejoicing

SHRUB OAK, N.Y. – Catholics around the world on Sunday are celebrating the holiest day of the year, Easter Sunday, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Churches throughout the Archdiocese of New York expect standing-room-only crowds, including at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak, where the Rev. George Lodi said about 2,800 parishioners attend Mass every week.

"We actually consider every Sunday a small Easter for believers, and we hope the appeal of the Mass would attract parishioners to come back regularly," said Lodi, who has served in the Seton parish for the past 11 years.

Lodi said Easter is not only "the feast of rejoicing," but also a time of reconciliation of God with the human race.

"We rejoice in Jesus' gift of new life because he died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead," Lodi said. "Look how much God loves you by sending his only son to us. God is very close to us, at least he wants to be."

Holy Week is an exhausting time for priests, said Lodi, adding that the clergy at Seton will take a breather to enjoy a special dinner in a few weeks when things aren't so hectic.

"For priests it's supposed to be a time of rejoicing also," he said.

Seton, which has 3,800 families registered in the parish, will celebrate Masses at 7 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the church and at 9:30 and 11 a.m. simultaneously in the church and the school auditorium. Seton is at 1377 E. Main St., Shrub Oak.

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