Thousands participate in Way of the Cross procession over Brooklyn Bridge

On Friday, April 14, the Catholic lay movement Communion and Liberation led its 22nd annual Way of the Cross over the Brooklyn Bridge, which takes place every Good Friday.

The Way of the Cross is an act of devotion for Catholics to commemorate Jesus Christ’s passion. This tradition has been observed by Catholics for hundreds of years.

The first procession took place when fewer than 30 people from Communion and Liberation New York asked for permission to walk the Way of the Cross over the bridge, which was granted by then-Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Thomas Daily. The group was led by Father Ronald Marino on a rainy Good Friday in 1996. Twenty-two years later, the procession has grown to have thousands of participants.

The day started with prayers and a greeting from current Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn Nicholas DiMarzio at St. James Cathedral-Basilica in Downtown Brooklyn. The procession then began and included readings of Gospel passages and choral music. Stops to hear the readings took place on the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as in City Hall Park and Zuccotti Park in Manhattan. The day concluded with prayers at St. Peter’s Church in the Financial District.

DiMarzio and Father Richard Veras, ecclesiastical assistant for Communion and Liberation in New York, presided over the service, and music was provided by the Communion and Liberation choir under the direction of Christopher Vath, who also serves as music director of St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.