Tuesday, March 31, 2009

ARCHDIOCESE — The 25th annual Walk for Justice and Peace will take place in downtown Dayton on Good Friday, April 10, from noon to 2 p.m., beginning at Courthouse Square at Third and Main streets.

The walk follows the Stations of the Cross with stops at sites related to a social justice issue. For instance, for the first station, “Jesus is condemned,” the stop is at the courthouse where walkers will recall our faith’s opposition to the death penalty.

The walk is sponsored by 30 churches, faith communities and social justice organizations, including the archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Office in Dayton, Catholic Social Services, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sisters of the Precious Blood and the University of Dayton Center for Social Concern. The walk ends at the river and will be held rain or shine.

For more information, call the Dayton Catholic Social Action Office at 937-224-3026.

The Way of the Cross/Way of Justice will take place on Good Friday, beginning on Fountain Square in Cincinnati at noon. The theme this year is “Not in Our Name.” Four times of prayer and reflection will be held on Fountain Square before the group walks to the Freedom Center for a closing bread service. 

A life-size cross on the Fountain Square stage and carried at the head of the “pilgrimage” to the Freedom Center focuses the thoughts and prayer of participants on the suffering and death of Jesus on the first Good Friday and the suffering and dying of God’s people today. The four stations featured this year include “Jesus is condemned,” “Jesus is stripped of His garments,” “Jesus is nailed to the cross,” and “Jesus dies on the cross.” The prayer and reflection will focus upon the unjust acts of rejection of immigrants, war and violence, greed and the death penalty that lead to suffering of people today.

The times of prayer are prepared by a variety of groups including students from McAuley and Xavier High Schools, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and the Parish Collaborative on Immigration. Song, silence, drama, and Scripture readings recall the passion of Jesus and encourage Christians to be aware of suffering today.

The prayer will be visible from the jumbotron. The event is family friendly, accessible and signed for the hearing impaired. Participants are welcome to bring a chair.

For more information, call the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center 513-579-8547.