A procession of roughly 60 Christians marched down 100 Avenue on Good Friday to mark the start of this year’s Easter Triduum.
The crowd gathered outside of St. Mary’s Catholic Church around 9 a.m. and started the morning by listening to an address from Father Ambrose Umeohanna, who stood on the churches steps and looked down to a sidewalk filled with devotees.
Many of the people that attended the event bent to the ground on one knee, a gesture of respect, during Umeohanna’s address.
“When we look at the hardship Christ suffered for us, even when he was hanging on the cross, they were still mocking at him,” Umeohanna said.
“None of us could plumb the depths of what Christ suffered for us on the recovery, but the joy of recovery is Easter Sunday — the resurrection — the victory of life over death. It is a great day of reflection.”
The Easter Vigil is known as the biggest Mass of the entire Catholic church. It highlights what Christ intended to do with the cross and unites present day Christians with a religious landmark that happened nearly 2,000 years ago.
Christians believe Good Friday represents the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Easter Sunday marks his resurrection.
It is believed hoisting a wooden cross through town represents Christ’s suffering and death, a gesture of respect for hundreds of Catholics participating in the veneration. However, the three-day Triduum is tied to the entire event -------— suffering, death and resurrection.
Participants began and ended the walk at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with many taking turns to carry the large wooden cross. The route went past the long-term care office building, Parkview Plaza, Smithfield Lodge, the Westlock Gospel Chapel, the Trinity Lutheran Church, Westlock Christian Fellowship Church, Pembina Lodge, the Legion Villa, Westlock Funeral Home, Westlock United Church and St. Philip’s Anglican Church.
On Friday afternoon, the group returned to St. Mary’s Catholic Church for a Passion of the Christ service and reenactment.
“There is no greater love than this, that man should die for love of his friends,” Umeohanna said. “Christ died for us so that we might live eternally with God at the end of our life.”
