Bishop Andrew Cozzens, foreground, and Archbishop Bernard Hebda bless people in one of hundreds of vehicles that lined up for an Easter Sunday blessing April 12, 2020, in front of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens will be offering Easter blessings to people in their cars Easter Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. 

The bishops will stand outside the Cathedral along Selby Avenue 2-4 p.m. April 4. People wishing to receive a blessing are asked to stay in their cars with their windows rolled up.  

The bishops offered a similar blessing together last Easter, when in-person Masses across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, parishes are offering both in-person and livestreamed Masses for the Triduum, with some COVID-19 precautions still in place. The bishops also offered blessings to drivers-by on Christmas Day 2020. 

Last year, cars lined up for blocks as the bishops blessed individuals and families. The bishops wished people a “Happy Easter” and a blessing: “May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” 

Archbishop Hebda has previously shared his family’s tradition of receiving the archbishop’s blessing while he was growing up in Pittsburgh. He said his parents and siblings would pile into the car each Easter afternoon to go and receive the blessing.