Good Friday procession makes way through downtown Saskatoon

A crowd of around 300 people lined downtown Saskatoon to celebrate Good Friday, the holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ ahead of his resurrection on Easter, with prayer and singing that followed a similar path as the Christian saviour.

The crowd, which featured a variety of Christian denominations, began the 22nd annual Way of the Cross Prayer Walk on Spadina Crescent in front of the Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench. The walk consisted of stops at 14 different stations that mark different moments Jesus Christ experienced the day he died.

“For Christians, it means they’re able to walk in those footsteps of Christ,” Myron Rogal, the justice and peace co-ordinator with the Saskatoon Roman Catholic Diocese, said about the event.  “But also in solidarity with those who are suffering in many different ways, including in our local city here.

“The theme of social justice today is what it has been for the last 22 years for the Way of the Cross.”

Rogal said they were following the same route on Friday that they have always travelled, but usually welcome diverse crowds each year.

Oscar Castroverde was one of the many newcomers on Friday. While he has been to many processions, it was the first in Canada for Castroverde since he recently immigrated to Canada.

“As a Catholic, you have to always be reminded that the Lord Jesus Christ has sacrificed his life for us,” he said prior to the start of the walk.

The 14 different stations featured different themes and speakers to highlight injustices and circumstances, like suffering from spiritual or physical pain and access to education.

“It’s really walking as Christ walked with the least among us,” Rogal said. “He often spent time with those who were often regarded at the bottom of society, as we are attempting to do today.”

Rogal said the start of the walk was roughly 29 degrees warmer than last year’s walk, and was happy to note how many people from different Christian backgrounds were in attendance.

“It’s very important to get to know each other, to pray together … because when we are called to work towards the common good, we have those relationships in place and we’re able to work with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.