Palmerston North’s Easter pilgrimage
Hundreds of Christians marched behind a cross through the streets of Palmerston North, on a symbolic pilgrimage to remember the meaning of Easter.
All Saints’ Anglican Church on Broadway Ave was one of the pilgrimage’s six host churches, who each held a service telling part of the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection before the march moved to the next church.
All Saints’ vicar Nigel Dixon said the march was an act of devotion and physical remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice and victory, with the marchers metaphorically walking in his shoes.
Pilgrims carried rocks between each church, to represent both the burden of the cross Jesus carried and the metaphysical burden of humanities sins which his crucifixion redeemed.
The march began at Wesley Methodist Church on Broadway with 500 people, and by the time it finished at the Central Baptist Church on Church St, the crowd had grown to more than 600 strong.
Dixon said such pilgrimages were common to Easter celebrations around the world, particularly in Latin America, but Palmerston North was one of the few New Zealand communities to host one.
‘‘The last few years there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of people coming along. Which is very encouraging sign of the trajectory we’re on [spiritually].’’
Christians from all 55 congregations in and around Palmerston North took part in the pilgrimage, alongside people from the wider Manawatu¯ and even some representatives of the city’s Sikh community joined the march this year, Dixon said.
‘‘[The march] is an open invite for the whole community to join us and take part in our celebrations, and remember the values and sacrifice of Jesus as the city stops for the holiday.’’