Large crowd gathers for Way of the Cross
A large group of people gathered in the freezing temperatures of downtown Edmonton to participate in the 38th annual Way of the Cross on Friday.
Starting at the Immigration Hall at 100 Street and 105 Avenue, a large wooden cross was carried and stood up next to a wooden riser where the first prayers were read. This year’s focus was titled Speaking Truth to Power.
“We invite people to gather who have a concern about social issues that are affecting people. We invite them to move to different stations and think about challenging issues,” said Jim Gurnett, a member of the organizing committee.
After the prayer was read, the cross was lifted onto the shoulders of the cross-bearers and the crowd moved against the wind chill to the next station across snow-covered streets.
Accompanied by a choir singing while following the cross, the voices were heard not just from inside the crowd but broadcast through speakers on the back of a truck leading the way behind a police escort.
There were eight stops, each with a theme. The presenters delivered a speech about a pain, a hope and a challenge for all the participants.
“It’s a reminder that as people of faith we can’t just live our lives behind the walls of churches, we need to be out practically involved in the real world, standing beside the people that are hurting and persecuted,” Gurnett said.
After Immigration Hall, the crowd was led to the Homeless Memorial Plaza, then to the Royal Alberta Museum where there were speeches about the security of home and reconciliation with the Indigenous People of Canada.
The trek continued to the Edmonton police headquarters and then on to vacant land on 96 Street where there were prayers said for those who are in law enforcement as well as those who have broken the law, followed by a call to take better care of the land and Earth as a whole.
“Jesus was crucified by powers that saw him as a challenge to the status quo, and today many of those same powers would continue to see people hurt unless we speak up,” Gurnett said.
Gurnett said this is the coldest walk organizers have seen in all of the 38 years.
The walk ended with refreshments at Hope Mission.