At Christmas Masses, in soup kitchens on Long Island, a sense of sharing and togetherness

Long Island Christians set aside the gift-wrapping, decorating and big, bodacious dinners Monday to come to church and bask in the communal feeling of love, peace and goodwill toward all.

In ceremonies both solemn and celebratory, people packed into pews dressed in festive Christmas attire: adults adorned in red-and-green sweaters, young girls in red dresses with bows in their hair — and a few wearing reindeer ears — while boys sported tailored suits and bow ties.

At the Roman Catholic parish of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, nearly every seat was filled for the late morning Mass.

Peter Lucas of Rockville Centre attended Mass with his mother, Mimi O’Shea, his wife, Molly, and their children, Pippa and Gwen, who was celebrating her third birthday Monday.

“This is very important to us,” Peter Lucas said of the Mass. “It’s all part of the Christmas experience.”

O’Shea, a registered nurse, said the holiday is all about spending time together as a family.

“It’s a wonderful day,” she said. “All I care about is health.”

The Rev. Michael Duffy, the rector at St. Agnes, said a standing-room crowd of more than 3,500 people attended three late-afternoon Masses at the cathedral on Christmas Eve.

“People are hungry for something. They’re looking for something,” Duffy said. “The world is not giving them peace and what they need at their deepest hearts. And so they come here because we know this is where we get our joy from; where we get our peace from.”

In his homily, Bishop John Barres noted this was the 800th anniversary of the night when St. Francis of Assisi arranged the first Nativity scene in a small cave outside the Italian village of Greccio.

Barres said that Christmas nativity scenes are now a staple for Christians worldwide, from St. Peter’s Square in Rome to outside St. Agnes itself, symbolizing peace, love and salvation.

“As we spiritually draw near to Bethlehem at the end of this difficult year, we pray for those who suffer in the Holy Land, Ukraine and all war-torn areas of the world,” Barres said.

Weaving all the threads of the day together was the feeling of family — what it means, what it provides and what it inspires in people.

Rafael Bou of Rockville Centre came to Mass with his wife, Erica, and daughters, Isabel, 10, and Amelia, 3.

“This is the day that God created for us and for our family and tradition,” Rafael Bou said. “It means a lot to us. So we want to celebrate as a family. And so we're glad we're here and with family and in good health.”

Isabel’s message: “It’s good to spend time with your family and always with your family during Christmas.”

In Garden City's Cathedral of the Incarnation, the Rev. Adam Bucko reminded parishioners to reflect upon Christmas beyond decorations and presents and consider the continued work of “finding the lost, healing the broken, feeding the hungry … and making music in the heart.”

That message resonated with Rita Samuel of Northport, who attended the Mass with her family. Samuel said it’s important to be “a source of happiness for others” and that goes beyond any day of the year.

“It's not just on the day itself,” she said. “It's an everyday thing that we need to keep in our hearts.”

The Very Rev. Michael Sniffen, dean of the cathedral, said the morning Mass was an opportunity for reflection.

“This Christmas, I think, has been very important: one, because people are feeling disconnected in so many ways, in the aftermath of the pandemic, but also because of the global circumstances of war and challenge and isolation,” he said after the service.

Elsewhere, Tina and Cory Godwin volunteered at the Mercy Soup Kitchen of Wyandanch — the second time since Thanksgiving.

After they married in February, the couple began a tradition of volunteering.

“I wanted to do something different than going to peoples’ houses and stuffing ourselves,” Tina Godwin said. “I wanted to give back. We have so much to be thankful for.”

Mike Quarlena, a former chef who runs the soup kitchen, said he appreciated those who came on Christmas to cook and get the food together. He actually had to turn away volunteers Monday.

What he needs the most is more volunteers during the rest of the year, “like a random Tuesday.”

“People are hungry 365 days a year,” he said. “Not just the holidays.”

Tina Godwin, who called herself the “master wrapper” of the operation, covered paper plates holding ham with pineapple, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole with plastic wrap before her husband and other volunteers put the meals in bags with items such as bread, milk, chocolates and slices of pound cake. They handed out about 70 meals during lunchtime Monday as Christmas songs played in the background.

Larry Pressley was among those who picked up a few meals along with cups of soup. Pressley, who has been looking for employment for months since losing his last job, said the soup kitchen has helped him and his girlfriend get by.

“Sometimes we don't [have the money] …. so we come here,” he said outside the soup kitchen. “It’s been a tough year. I don’t know how else to put it. … It's life.”

Pressley said he’s hopeful things will change for the better in the new year. “I actually don't stress it because I know I will get back on my feet,” he said.