NEW YORK — While many travel to New York for the holiday season, St. Patrick’s Cathedral has seen a surge in visitors this month, with more than 1.5 million visitors from the Big Apple stopping to view the church, according to the Nicaraguan priest, Enrique Salvo.
Father Salvo stressed that this figure corresponds to the number of visitors in the pre-pandemic era, and attributed a rise in the number of visits to some of the initiatives, including the special lighting of the exteriors of the Cathedral, a project carried out by first time in the 164-year history of St. Patrick’s.
“2022 has been the year of New York City’s tourism resurgence, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, as an iconic monument and site, wants to make its contribution to the city by standing ready with its doors open to welcome believers. , non-believers and people of all religions to visit and discover this marvel of neo-Gothic architecture that perches on Fifth Avenue in New York,” said the priest.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest neo-Gothic church, not only in New York City, but in all of North America, as well as being recognized as an architectural landmark worldwide. This year, for the first time since its foundation in 1858, the Cathedral is illuminated on the outside, seeking to attract tourists, locals and people of all cultures and religions.
“It is important to mention that the lighting that you have at this moment is something temporary to give people a flavor, an idea of what it would be permanently,” said Father Enrique Salvo. “It’s expected to be permanent, like the great churches in Europe, where every detail is illuminated.”
El Padre Salvo extends an invitation to all local Hispanics or visitors looking for more Christmas events before the holiday.
“San Patricio is a special space for all those immigrants and tourists to come not only to pray, but also to enjoy the decoration and lights that, for the first time, are turned on to embellish our façade in the best style of European cathedrals. ”, concluded Father Salvo. “On December 24 we will have a Mass in English at 5:30 p.m. for the children and on the 25th we will have a full schedule of homilies that includes a Mass in Spanish, at 4:00 p.m., for all the families who wish to join us.” .
For those interested in attending the Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, tickets are out. According to Father Salvo, the Cathedral received more than 20,000 applicants for free tickets to the mass. To view the full schedule of Christmas Masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, click here.