CBD walks the Way of the Cross

CBD walks the  Way of the Cross

On Good Friday, 2500 people from different denominations walked “The Way of the Cross” – a pilgrimage throughout the CBD to celebrate togetherness.

Beginning at St Francis’ Church on the corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth streets, the Way of the Cross stopped at 14 “stations”, including Wesley Uniting Church on Lonsdale St, St Michael’s Uniting Church on Collins St and St Paul’s Cathedral on Swanston St.

Stations were marked by bronze sculptures depicting Jesus’s journey from the last supper to resurrection, created by Melbourne artist Anna Meszaros.

The crowd stopped at each sculpture and paused for prayer, readings and hymns.

The pilgrimage was first developed in 1998 by the Melbourne City Churches in Action (MCCIA), an organisation made up of representatives from each CBD church.

Reverend Ric Holland of St Michael’s church is president of MCCIA and told CBD News about its conscious effort to honour the Easter tradition and to better engage with the city.

“There are many churches in the city and they are all very different. St Michael’s is probably the most different. Even though we are different, nevertheless and, particularly on Good Friday, we come together because we share this moment,” he said.

Participants carried a statue of the cross for the entirety of the walk, signifying all the CBD churches being connected through their shared theology.

The Way of the Cross took about three hours on Good Friday and resumed on Easter Sunday morning before concluding with a shared meal at St Paul’s Cathedral at 1pm.

“The walk signifies that on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, all differences aside, we come together to say we are one and we identify with each other as sisters and brothers,” Rev Holland said.

Since Labor has been in power …

Since Labor has been in power …

March 20th, 2024 - Evan Mulholland
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