Christmas Eve mass at St. John's Cathedral draws hundreds in downtown Milwaukee Sunday night
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- From the doors to the altar, Milwaukee's Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist was adorned with festive cheer on Sunday.
Hundreds began filing into the church in the late afternoon ahead of the 5:15 p.m. mass.
"It's my favorite time of year, it means everything!" said Milwaukee-native Lynell Carlson. “This started out with my son, he’s Catholic, and he always brought us to midnight mass or to mass and so even though my son’s not here this year we decided to continue the tradition.”
Carlson was joined by her grandchildren, daughter, and her son-in-law, Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
“Sam, my brother-in-law, started this great tradition of ours and we come down every single year and we really enjoy spending time with each other on Christmas," Johnson told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White.
His wife, Dominique Johnson, agreed, adding that her favorite memories involve quality time with their family.
“I’m looking forward to the kids running downstairs and saying Merry Christmas to everybody and just the happiness and joy that’s going to be filling the room," Johnson said.
But for others, the upcoming holiday season feels a bit different.
“I have mixed emotions; this is the first year my wife passed away in March. We’ve been married 58 years," said Dave Begel. “I like the holiday, I like the love, that’s why I’m here at the cathedral to share this time with other people is important to me right now.”
Begel said his wife used to be the "Christmas queen" who would go all out when decorating.
Now that his children live out of town and his wife has passed, Begel said being able to attend shared gatherings is crucial.
"I have nowhere to go tomorrow on Christmas Day and to reach out and be part of a community which is what you find in a church at a mass, that communal warmth is very important," Begel said.
If you missed the earlier mass, the church will be holding another at midnight.
You can watch the livestream here.