Cardinal Timothy Dolan celebrated Mass and lit the Christmas trees at Holy Rosary Church in Staten Island’s South Beach, reminding parishioners that it is Jesus whose light dispels the darkness.

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan addressed the meaning of Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday that is symbolized by the rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath and similarly colored vestments. “Gaudete is Latin, and it means ‘rejoice,’” he explained, noting that while Advent is a somewhat penitent season, the Church does not want us to forget the joy of the Christmas season.

“As for the vestments, I’m glad we only do it twice a year,” Cardinal Dolan said. “The first time I wore it as a priest, my brother was there. I said, ‘What do you think of the rose vestments?’ He said, ‘You look like a bottle of Pepto-Bismal,’” the cardinal said during the December 14 evening vigil Mass.

“I am thankful for your good priests. Father Michael Martine, thank you for being such a good shepherd,” Cardinal Dolan said, to warm applause, naming Holy Rosary’s pastor. He also thanked Father Joseph (Guozhang) Ruan, Father Andrew Ilegbemi, and the numerous religious sisters in attendance.

“It’s dark out there. It’s so dark out there we’re seeing drones,” Cardinal Dolan joked. “As we celebrate the fact that the sun stops descending and begins to go back up, sun, s-u-n, we celebrate the only begotten son, s-o-n, of God, became our Lord and Savior at Bethlehem,” he said.

Concelebrating with Cardinal Dolan was Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne, who also serves as the episcopal vicar for Staten Island, along with Father Martine, Father Joseph, and Father Andrew.

At the close of Mass, Father Martine thanked Cardinal Dolan for attending the evening’s Mass, along with the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm from nearby Richmond. He also expressed his gratitude, in Spanish, for all of the parishioners who assisted with Holy Rosary’s celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe earlier in the week.

In an interview after Mass, Father Martine told The Good Newsroom about his parish’s growing Mandarin Chinese-speaking community. “We have a Chinese Mass every Sunday afternoon. There is an influx into the neighborhood now of Mandarin Chinese speakers, and we are preparing to minister to them,” Father Martine said, noting the presence of Father Joseph Ruan at Holy Rosary for that purpose.

Following Mass, parishioners gathered outside for the lighting of the Christmas trees, which Cardinal Dolan switched on after a blessing. The rows of trees were installed by parishioner Thomas Banks and his workers, with other church community members adding their own memorial cards, lights, and ornaments.

Cardinal Dolan then joined Father Martine and the parish’s other priests, along with numerous religious sisters who attended the Mass, and parishioners in the parish hall for refreshments.

“It’s always a great honor for us to have the cardinal come to visit us, and this is a happy, festive event where we celebrate our preparation for Jesus’ birth, so we’re happy to hear from him tonight to spiritually enlighten and uplift us as we prepare for the Lord’s coming for Christmas,” Father Martine told The Good Newsroom.