After 36 years, the Rev. Jim Mathews is hanging up the sunrise Easter Mass at Burnet Park

About 400 people attended the 36th Easter Sunday Sunrise Mass in the upper parking lot at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, April 21, 2019. The Rev. Jim Mathews of St. Lucy's gave the homily. Dennis Nett | [email protected] Dennis Nett | [email protected] Nett | [email protected]

UPDATE: The sunrise Easter Mass will continue under the direction of Rev. Fred Daley, with assistance from St. Lucy's and All Saints churches.

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Syracuse, N.Y. — Every Easter for the past 36 years, hundreds of people of all faiths gathered at Burnet Park for the Rev. Jim Mathews’ sunrise service. It didn't matter if it was sunny, or raining (or snowing), people from all over Central New York joined Mass with chairs and blankets around 6 a.m.

During his Sunday service at St. Lucy's Catholic Church in Syracuse this week, Mathews told his congregation he won't be continuing the tradition of early morning Mass on the hilltop near the zoo this year.

"Physically, it was just too hard for me," Mathews said Monday afternoon.

Mathews began the Easter tradition during his six years at St. Charles church in Syracuse, and has continued the service while at St. Lucy's for the past 30 years. With the exception of the pandemic, the sunrise service has never been canceled before, he said.

Mathews, 86, hopes someone will take over the service. But he and one of the other organizers are unable to continue doing it.

The Rev. Jim Mathews of St. Lucy's Church of Syracuse gives the homily during Easter sunrise service at Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, April 15, 2001.

During the service, people faced the city to watch the sun come up. They were accompanied by Mathews with a microphone and a music group. The service usually lasted an hour. People were able to enjoy the sunrise while bundled in blankets and winter coats.

"It was a powerful experience to celebrate the resurrection outside and then have a sun hopefully come up," Mathews said. "It must have meant a lot to the people because the crowds were very, very big."

Although Mathews won't be in Burnet Park this year, he's still holding a service at St. Lucy's Catholic Church on Easter Sunday at 10 a.m.

Through the beautiful sunrises and freezing temperatures, Mathews said he couldn't recall a favorite mass from the past 36 years – they were all his favorite.

"It's an experience," he said. "You can't divide the experience up; it was a religious experience for all of us. So there's no favorite part. It's just the whole thing was a very uplifting experience. That's why we did it for 36 years."

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