This story is from 2015. For this year’s information concerning praying the steps in 2016, click HERE or visit the Mass Times calendar. 

On Friday, April 3, thousands of Cincinnati area residents will visit Holy Cross-Immaculata parish in Mt. Adams for the annual Good Friday Praying of the Steps. For many area families, it is an annual tradition. No matter the weather, area faithful climb the steps, one by one, from the base of the steps to the church.

In the early days, the faithful climbed a dirt path until wooden steps were built, followed by concrete steps in 1911. Today, those visiting the steps can choose to begin from one of three locations: the upper, middle, or lower steps.

The upper steps begin on St. Gregory Street just below the church entrance, and the middle steps begin on Columbia Parkway. The lower steps, which begin on Riverside Drive (formerly Eastern Avenue) across from the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, were repaired in 2009 and now feature wider steps, pedestrian-scaled lighting, and new landscaping and signage. There is also an improved pedestrian overlook at the top of the steps, just outside the main entrance to Immaculata Church.

Beginning with a blessing of the steps on St. Gregory Street at midnight by Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati Joseph R. Binzer, people will begin to line up and ascend the steps.

“There is no one way to pray the steps,” said Father Jeffery Bacon, Pastor of Holy Cross-Immaculata parish. “Some people pray the rosary, some read verses of the bible, others engage in prayer or silent reflection — it’s a very personal experience.”

Upon completion of the steps, Catholic visitors may avail themselves of confession with visiting priests stationed outside (weather permitting) and inside the church.

Visitors are invited to enter the church to pray or attend one of the two Passion Services to be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The services include the reading of the Passion Narrative and Veneration of the Cross. Holy Cross-Immaculata parishioners will serve donuts and coffee from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will host a traditional Fish Fry from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The church will remain open until midnight.

“Each year our parish looks forward to opening our doors to the thousands of pilgrims who visit,” Father Bacon said. “Some people think we are a church that is only open on Good Friday. In fact, we are a vibrant parish with over 250 families from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana who are active in our many spiritual and social activities throughout the year.”

The parish is incorporating one of its regular community outreach activities into the Good Friday tradition by encouraging visitors to donate canned or non-perishable food items for Hope Emergency Program, a non-profit outreach agency that helps residents of Brown County.

In the 2015 Challenge, if Hope Emergency reaches their goal of 109,500 pounds of food donated, they will receive an additional anonymous donation of $5,000.  Food collection barrels will be available at the church all day on Good Friday and throughout the Holy Week events.

Holy Week at Holy Cross-Immaculata began on Palm Sunday, March 29. The parish also hosts a Mass on Holy Thursday at 7 p.m., the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 8:45 p.m., and two Easter Masses on Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

For more information about praying the steps, including recommended locations for parking, please visit the Holy Cross-Immaculata parish website at www.hciparish.org or call (513) 721-6544.

Posted April 2, 2015

Information supplied by Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish