About 2,000 people turned out on a chilly grey Good Friday morning to walk the Stations of the Cross for two kilometres around the campus of St. Paul’s College.
Archbishop Richard Gagnon leads the Way of the Cross procession from Christ the King Chapel at the University of Manitoba on Friday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
It was the first Way of the Cross procession held at a post-secondary campus in Winnipeg. The event takes place each year at different churches as one of the key holy ceremonies for Catholics during Lent. Friday marked the 35th annual event, led by Archdiocese of Winnipeg Archbishop Richard Gagnon.
About 500 attendees filled Christ the King chapel, putting the venue at capacity as hundreds of parishioners waited outside before the group walked together through the 14 stations of the cross, a symbol of Jesus Christ’s walk to his death.
“You could feel a sense of belongingness to the archdiocese, and being one with people from other cultures,” said Jay Martin, a church member within the archdiocese who has been attending the annual ceremony with his family in Winnipeg since 2014. “You see them also, each person trying their best to practice their faith.”
The annual holy walk draws a large Catholic Filipino community and people across demographics, young and old. This year, its location close to the University of Manitoba may have helped draw a larger and younger crowd.
“I think there was a stronger youth movement at this gathering today, simply because we’re a university-affiliated college,” said Christopher Adams, rector of St. Paul’s College.
Paul Bahiga holds the cross before leading the Way of the Cross procession to the second Station of the Cross at the University of Manitoba on Friday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
About 100 volunteers helped organize the event and were on hand for crowd control, traffic direction and distributing post-walk refreshments. The Winnipeg Police Service blocked off the route to keep pedestrians safe. The event was organized by the archdiocese’s office of youth and young adult ministry.
Justin Mall (front) and Paul Bahiga lead the Way of the Cross procession to the second Station of the Cross at the University of Manitoba on Friday. This is the first year that the event has been held on a university campus. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
“It was a big team effort,” Adams said.
Teens Aaron Santos and Jhaesen Lazaro said they were glad they participated.
“It was a really nice experience,” said 14-year-old Lazaro. Santos, 16, said walking along the stations of the cross allowed him to feel a “deeper connection” to his faith.
Mary Alba, 22, described the experience as enlightening.
“It’s also a way to look at our life in a different perspective. Not only that, but I think it also helps us bond together as Catholic and as Christians,” she said. “It’s been fulfilling.”
A varied mix of young families with children, young adults, and seniors attended.
“It’s like reuniting with all brothers and sisters in Christ, despite the age ranges,” said 22-year-old Alex Copones.
Justin Mall (front) and Paul Bahiga lead the Way of the Cross procession to the second Station of the Cross at the University of Manitoba on Friday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
Among the many youthful volunteers were Iliana Nikolic and Luc Monpetit, who drove in from Saskatoon. They said it was important for them to gather as a testimony to their beliefs, understanding many non-religious people think of Good Friday as simply a day off from school or work.
Sebastian Aguilar, 24, agreed, saying it’s particularly meaningful because of previous pandemic gathering restrictions.
“It’s so beautiful to pray together. It’s hard to pray when you’re just at home, trying to connect to people virtually,” he said.
“It’s really beautiful to come together in person, and you see that we’re all together, one community, one body of Christ. It’s really uplifting.”
katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
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