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In the Steps and Life of Jesus - Then and Now

Prince Albert - Madeleine Marchildon

The Way of the Cross may be seen as a miniature pilgrimage to the Holy places in Jerusalem. In Prince Albert, the modern ecumenical fourteen outdoor Stations of the Cross have been Good Friday devotions for the past twelve or so years.

Some 275 pilgrims from different Christian churches follow the footsteps of Christ in his sorrowful journey, not in the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, but in the streets of Prince Albert. The special stopping places cut through the cultural, social, political, economic, judicial, and religious “wounds and falls” of Christ identified in our brothers and sisters.

The event is sponsored by the Roman Catholic parishes of Prince Albert and the Prince Albert Ministerial Association. At each station, a Passion scripture passage is read, the theme developed and a prayer said. Between each station, the wooden cross is carried while the pilgrims sing an appropriate hymn.

This year, at the first station in front of City Hall, Louis Hradecki from the diocesan Social Justice office stated that City Hall is a place where decisions are made that are life giving or life taking. Is Jesus still being judged unfairly and crucified by religious and political leaders?

As the pilgrims moved on to the second station at the Salvation Army Outreach Center, Major Glenn stated that “the poor receive the scraps and the crumbs that fall from our tables and between the cracks of our system.” At the third station outside the Liquor Board, Rev. Ryan Siemens from the Grace Mennonite Church talked about the eminent problems in Prince Albert facing those trapped by addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling. There are seven shelters and a waiting list of 159 clients. He says “We don’t want them on our streets where we walk. They have nowhere to go”.

At the next three stations which were the Food Bank, the steps of the Presbyterian Church and the Friendship Center, the faithful were reminded of the many homeless, rejected and hungry both physically and spiritually.

At the Multicultural Center, Marge Nainaar stated that “…there is an estimated 25 million internally displaced people in the world and another 35 million refugees who are politically persecuted and forced out of their homes through violence.”

At the next six stations; the downtown mall, the Federal Building, the bank, Margo Fournier Center (Youth Center), Forestry Center and the Court House – the problems of consumerism, fair legislation, financial security, youth ministry, environmental stewardship, justice and prisons were addressed in a Christ-like manner.

At the last station, in front of the Cenotaph of the War Memorial, Bishop Albert Thévenot, M. Afr. recalled the memory and silence of those who laid down their lives. He said, “Jesus gave up his life, was put in a tomb and was silenced. The tomb is not the end, but an opening, a beginning of a new horizon, a breaking through to a new life in Jesus. We are challenged to commit ourselves to the true Messiah, our only hope and take up our cross and follow Him.” 

Rev. Ryan Siemens, Brad Taylor and wife Christine were part of the organization committee who assembled the Good Friday event. Christine said that she would like to see more participation especially when you look at the nature of this event. “We come together in our shared desire to make Christ present in our world. We can pray over what we are concerned about.”

Bishop Thévenot reflected on the walk through the streets symbolizing our walk in life helping the many who hurt and who are broken in their relationships and families. “We should not let suffering go on in silence. We need to answer the call bringing Jesus and his saving love to all so they may have His life and have it abundantly.”