Easter Sunday Mass draws crowds

Easter Sunday is a time for Christians to embrace the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is the holiest event on the liturgical calendar, and Easter Sunday Mass is often the most-attended service of the entire year. Although the faithful are encouraged to attend Mass every Sunday, pews are not typically as full on most Sundays as they are on Easter Sunday. According to a 2024 report released by Lifeway Research, 90 percent of surveyed Protestant pastors listed Easter as either the most-attended Sunday Mass or in the top three across the United States. Some estimates suggest that 30 million people attend Easter services who would not normally go to church regularly. Pew Research Center states there is a sharp increase in church attendance during Easter as well as Christmas. Mother's Day also is a day that sees increased Mass attendance.