Beach Catholic initiative on Long Island held a summer Mass on the beach. The Mass took place on July 6, 2025, with hundreds of attendees. A processional cross made from wood from the Long Island boardwalk destroyed by Hurricane Sandy was used. The event is part of the Eucharistic Revival.
5 months ago
The "Beach Catholic" initiative on Long Island, New York, has been hosting summer Sunday Masses directly on the seashore for 11 years, drawing hundreds to thousands of attendees each week 1. This unique outdoor liturgy began as a grassroots effort by parishioners and their pastor to create new evangelization opportunities within their distinctive beach setting 1. The program is a collaboration of three local parishes: St. Ignatius Martyr, St. Mary of the Isle, and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 1.
Despite the casual beach environment, maintaining the sanctity and reverence of the Mass is a significant priority for Father Brian Barr, the pastor, and is acknowledged by the local bishop 1. The sacred items used, including the altar, ambo, and processional cross, hold special significance as they were crafted by a parishioner from wood salvaged from the boardwalk destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 1.
Attendees consistently report that the beach setting enhances their spiritual experience, allowing them to connect with God's creation and deepen their prayer and meditation 1. The public nature of the Mass serves as a powerful evangelization tool, attracting both lapsed Catholics and curious onlookers who often stop, stay, and return 1. Over the past decade, an estimated 50,000 people have attended, with many experiencing a renewed connection to their faith 1.
The Beach Catholic initiative is seen as a practical application of the "New Evangelization," fulfilling the call for a "missionary church" to share Christ's truth publicly 1. Father Steven McClernon, an associate pastor, highlights the parallel to ancient tradition, noting that just as Jesus called his first disciples by the seashore, the Blessed Sacrament continues to call disciples there today 1. The initiative embraces the theme "Here comes everybody," reflecting the universal and inclusive nature of the Catholic Church 1.
How does the Church evangelize in changing contexts?
The Church evangelizes in changing contexts by embracing a "new evangelization" that renews its methods and approaches while remaining faithful to its core mission of proclaiming Jesus Christ . This new evangelization is particularly urgent in traditionally Christian countries where secularization has had a significant impact, leading to a decline in Christian sensibility and a fragmentation of unifying reference points .
The concept of "new evangelization" emerged from the Second Vatican Council, which recognized that the groups among whom the Church operates had changed, creating an entirely new situation for evangelization . This renewed evangelical dynamism influences both the Missio ad Gentes (announcement of the Gospel to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ) and the new evangelization, which is directed primarily at those who, though baptized, have drifted away from the Church .
Key aspects of the Church's approach to evangelization in changing contexts include:
The new evangelization calls for a renewed manner of proclamation, especially for those living in secularized contexts . It aims to help everyone understand that God's law is a law of freedom and joy for total personal fulfillment . This requires offering the Gospel in ways that are appropriate to changing times, making it intelligible and attractive to contemporary individuals . The vital core of this new evangelization remains a clear and unequivocal proclamation of the person of Jesus Christ, including his name, teaching, life, promises, and the Kingdom he gained through his Paschal Mystery .
The new evangelization is a renewed movement towards those who have lost faith and a sense of life's deep meaning . It involves going out to meet others, dialoguing with those who hold different beliefs or no faith at all, recognizing that all are created in the image and likeness of God . The Church is called to reawaken hope everywhere, especially where it has been suffocated by difficult living conditions, bringing the "fresh air of the Gospel" and the "breath of the Spirit of the Risen Christ" . This means the Church must be a home with open doors, not only for welcome but also for going out to bear love and hope to the "outskirts of humanity" .
The Church's mission to evangelize is intrinsically linked to the witness of holiness . The witness of life makes words all the more compelling when speaking of God openly and courageously . It is unthinkable that a person should accept the word and give himself to the Kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in turn . This witness is a leaven of renewal in the life of the Church .
The Church is called to face new challenges posed by anthropological, cultural, social, and religious changes . This includes engaging in dialogue with different cultures and religions to build peaceful coexistence . The mission ad gentes today extends beyond geographical considerations to include new areas of human geography, such as the urban poor, migrants, refugees, young people, and the modern media . The Church must also address the profound religious needs and aspirations of a society increasingly at risk of forgetting its spiritual roots and yielding to a materialistic vision of the world .
The new evangelization is particularly entrusted to the laity, as it is through them that the Church becomes present in various sectors of society as a sign and source of hope and love . Lay faithful are called to carry forward the Church's prophetic mission by evangelizing family, social, professional, and cultural life .
The Church's evangelizing activity is a continuous process, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, which produces a beneficent influence on both Missio ad Gentes and the new evangelization . This renewed dynamism calls all Christians to account for the hope within them, recognizing that ignorance of Christ and his teachings is a significant obstacle to the pastoral mission . The Church, sure of her Lord's fidelity, never tires of proclaiming the good news and invites all Christians to rediscover the attraction of following Christ .