By Tablet Staff

MANHATTAN — After last year’s virtual Columbus Day observance, this year’s event returned as an in-person celebration of faith and Italian-American heritage in New York City. Columbus Day 2021 began with a bilingual Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Monday morning. 

Cardinal Dolan opened the Mass speaking in Italian while celebrating alongside dozens of fellow bishops and priests, including Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Msgrs. Jamie Gigantiello and David Cassato.

Today’s #ColumbusDay2021 parade after Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the @BrooklynDiocese float makes its way around Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/K2Mb2VYXJd

— The Tablet (@TabletNewspaper) October 11, 2021

“You know why we gather, we gather to thank God for the bravery of Christopher Columbus,” Cardinal Dolan said. “The dare and the dream and that he was an agent of Jesus in bringing the faith to the new world. So we thank God for him and we thank God for Italian culture, the magnificent contribution of the Italians to the fabric of American life, and if I might say so, to the Catholic family.”

This is the first year that New York City is recognizing the day as Italian-American Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day.

The 77th annual Columbus Day parade marked the continuation of Italian-American heritage and culture month, which began Oct. 1. The 2021 Grand Marshal, Duck Pond Associates Chairman Michael Pascucci, led the annual parade on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan. 

This year’s parade stepped off at 11:30 a.m. and included dozens of marching bands and floats from over 100 groups, including the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Stay tuned for more Columbus Day coverage from The Tablet HERE and Currents News on NETTV.NY