Public Witness: Alaskans set to walk Stations of the Cross through Anchorage

CatholicAnchor.org

Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the annual Good Friday Faith Walk on March 25. The annual devotion begins at various points across Anchorage with groups of area faithful walking and praying the Stations of the Cross. As they wind through the city streets, the participants meditate on the steps Jesus Christ took through his Passion and death on the very first Good Friday. The various groups eventually meet together at Anchorage’s Town Square to pray the final stations together with Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz.

As groups process through the streets of Anchorage they walk behind a leader carrying a large wooden cross.

Once people arrive at Town Square, one by one, the first 11 Stations of the Cross are announced in slow succession. At the station, “Jesus is nailed to the cross,” a group descends the steps from the second floor beating Native drums in a mournful cadence. Then, like pallbearers, another group carries aloft a life-size, heavy wood, red-draped cross, and Archbishop Schwietz walks behind.

The cross is then carried up to the second-floor outdoor terrace where several lay people and Archbishop Schwietz lead the final stations, which will begin at 11:15 a.m. in Town Square.

For those interested in participating in the event, vests and Stations of the Cross books are available.  For more information, contact Matthew Beck at 297-7734 or email:mbeck@caa-ak.org. Click here for a complete list of all starting times and locations for the Good Friday Faith Walk.