A Message of Peace and

Harmony for New Year

It was my eighteenth visit to Midnight Mass at the magnificent St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Christmas Eve. Once again, I received a warm welcome from Joseph Zwilling, director of the Office of Communications at the Archdiocese of New York and a great representative of the famous cathedral.

With the retirement of Cardinal John Egan, Timothy Dolan celebrated his first Christmas Mass as archbishop of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. His message was about how the birth of a child would change the world and he made a plea for all the faithful to change their lives for the better.

Something new was added this year to the décor of the cathedral and Archbishop Dolan recognized the new addition of a Nativity display with a special blessing at the start of the evening’s program.

How can you go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral at Christmas without a visit to the holiday’s most famous tree?

This year’s tree at Rockefeller Center is a little unusual because it actually has two tops. The twin peaks had to be tied together to place the Swarovski Crystal star at the very top. This year’s Norway Spruce stands 76 feet tall and is illuminated with five miles of wiring containing 30,000 lights.

I think the most beautiful view of the tree is from Fifth Avenue where the brightly lit angels frame the tree. You have until January 6 to see the tree if you haven’t been there as yet. I was lucky enough to get a thumbs-up from  Santa Claus himself as I joined window shoppers along The Avenue.

Just a note for the curious. You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate the beauty of the Cathedral or the people who travel from throughout the world to share in a ceremony of peace and friendship year after year. Former Mayor Ed Koch  was seated in the front of St. Patrick’s with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and smiled most of the evening even off camera.

P.S.

A Happy and Healthy wish for the New Year from Herb & Family.