Where to live stream Easter Sunday services and other messages of hope

Updated: December 29, 2024 - 6:44am

<p>Amid the coronavirus outbreak, about 95 percent of Americans are under lockdown orders of some kind, and the vast majority of churches are not meeting in person.</p><p>Holy Week rituals observed at the Vatican will not be open to public for the first time in history and its doors will be sealed off from the throngs of of worshipers who typically pack St. Peters Square. The Pope is locked in the Vatican, where seven cases of COVID-19 have been reported among priests. On Thursday, the pontiff prayed for the priests who were serving the sick in hospitals and clinics.</p><p>While church doors might be closed around the world, many congregations in the U.S. have found creative ways to provide services for their followers.</p><p>Here are just a few ways you can live stream events and listen to messages of hope:</p><p>Vatican Easter Mass</p><p>Pope Francis will celebrate Easter at 4:55 a.m. EDT at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Following mass, the pope will deliver his Urbi et orbi message and give an Easter blessing. Meaning "From the city [of Rome] to the world," it is usually delivered only twice a year, at Easter and Christmas. If you don't want to set your alarm, the rebroadcast will be available on YouTube.</p><p>Washington’s National Cathedral</p><p>In the nation's capital, Washington's National Cathedral will celebrate Easter with a livestream its service beginning at 8:15 a.m. EDT Sunday. The National Cathedral has suspended in-person worship for the next two Sundays, the longest preplanned closure in its history (not counting a closure of several weeks after the 2011 earthquake that seriously damaged it).</p><p>NYC's St. Patrick’s Cathedral</p><p>The popular New York City cathedral will hold Sunday mass on its websiteand its Facebook pageand it will be streamed on the Cathedral's YouTube page,starting at 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday. "I look forward to praying with all of you, in a very special way, for those who have died and their families, the sick, and the doctors, nurses, and health care professionals who have been courageously fighting this disease," said Cardinal Timothy Dolan in a statement.</p><p>Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church</p><p>Televangelist Joel Osteen is pulling together an all-star lineup for his Easter Sunday celebration. The pastor will be joined at his Lakewood Church in Houston by Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Tyler Perry, according to TMZ.com. According to deadline.com, Carey will be singing, Perry will address the congregation and details of West’s involvement were not disclosed, though, like Perry, he has previously shared the pulpit with Osteen.</p><p>Christian World Media</p><p>Christian World Media connects listeners with daily and weekly worship services offered by your local church. A number of services are scheduled for Easter Sunday, includingUnity Presbyterian Church at 9:30 a.m. EDT and First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. EDT. The CWM website offers a search for your city and also lists the daily services scheduled for a number of churches across the country.</p><p>Andrea Bocelli: Music For Hope</p><p>Andrea Bocelli, theblind Italian tenor, holds an Easter concert at the historic Duomo di Milano in Italy, which will be livestreamed on YouTube at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday. “On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the city and the Duomo of Milan,” Bocelli said in a statement.</p><p>The English Touring Opera</p><p>The famed opera company was forced to cancel its remaining performance due to the coronavirus. But that hasn't stopped them from raising their voices in Easter celebration. The English Touring Opera announced Tuesday it would be making its broadcast debut on Easter Sunday with a performance of Bach's St. Johns Passion. The performance will be available at 11 a.m. EDT on Sunday on YouTube.</p>