Inglewood, Compton Residents Join Easter Celebrations Across Los Angeles County

Inglewood and Compton residents joined thousands across Los Angeles County in Easter celebrations this weekend, with services ranging from beachfront sunrise gatherings to downtown community outreach events under clear spring skies.

While Inglewood churches held their own special Easter celebrations, including Grammy winner Cory Henry’s gospel performance at The Miracle Theatre, many local families also traveled to regional services at beaches, memorial parks, and the downtown Cathedral.

“Easter is a time when our community comes together, whether at local church services or at these special regional events,” said Pastor James Wilson of Inglewood Faith Center. “Many of our congregation members attend our morning service and then participate in these larger county celebrations with their extended families.”

Among the notable regional celebrations was Our Lady of Guadalupe Church’s “Sunrise Mass on the Beach” held on the sand at 11th Street, south of the Hermosa Beach Pier at 6 a.m., which drew attendees from across the South Bay, including Inglewood.

The Manhattan Beach Community Church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ, held a sunrise service on the beach north of the Manhattan Beach Pier at 6:30 a.m. This beachfront celebration, approximately 15 minutes from Inglewood, has become an annual tradition for many local families.

Green Hills Memorial Park in nearby Rancho Palos Verdes held an Easter Sunrise Service that began at 6 a.m., which was also livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

In downtown Los Angeles, The Midnight Mission hosted its annual Easter Celebration and Street Fair, serving nearly 2,000 homeless and near-homeless individuals and families from across the county, including those from Inglewood and Compton. The organization served a traditional Easter meal and distributed hygiene items to attendees.

The Midnight Mission prepared an impressive feast including 2,500 pounds of barbecue chicken, 1,000 pounds of honey glazed spiral ham, 1,000 pounds of garlic mashed potatoes and 700 pounds of seasonal vegetables topped with 45 gallons of gravy, according to Georgia Berkovich, its chief communications officer.

Singer-songwriter Mark Mackay entertained at the downtown event for the ninth year, performing what he bills as “guitar-driven American music,” while actor Mr. T spread “cheer and goodwill” to those in attendance.

For Inglewood residents seeking a formal Catholic Mass, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles celebrated Easter Sunday Mass, the Mass of the Resurrection of Our Lord, in English at 10 a.m. led by Monsignor Antonio Cacciapuoti, and in Spanish at 12:30 p.m. presided over by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez. Both Masses were also livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

Locally, Inglewood churches reported strong attendance at their Easter services. In addition to traditional church services, Cory Henry’s special Easter Sunday performance at The Miracle Theatre in Inglewood celebrated his Grammy-winning album “Church” with a blend of gospel and soul music that drew attendees from across the region.

Edward Vincent Jr. Park also hosted a community Easter egg hunt on Saturday that attracted hundreds of local families, with children searching for colorful eggs hidden throughout the park.

The feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the oldest and most important Christian celebration. Christians believe that by rising from the dead, Jesus demonstrated his power over sin and death, manifesting his divinity as the Son of God.

In his Easter message, President Donald Trump said, “On Easter Sunday, we celebrate his glorious resurrection and proclaim, as Christians have done for nearly 2,000 years, he is risen. Through the pain and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we saw God’s boundless love and devotion to all humanity, and in that moment of his resurrection, history was forever changed with the promise of everlasting life.”

This story includes information from City News Service with additional reporting on local Inglewood celebrations.