Chicago, IL (March 30, 2018) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, will join thousands of community members, Archdiocesan clergy and laity, and civic leaders as they process through the streets of Brighton Park, one of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods on Good Friday, March 30 and ending in Gage Park. Good Friday marks the day of Christ’s suffering and death, observed by Christians with special devotions including the Stations of the Cross or Via Crucis and veneration of the cross.

“On Good Friday, we will again come together to commemorate Christ’s crucifixion and death and to share in the anguish of the lives lost to violence in our city,” said Cardinal Cupich. “Jesus brings us together to walk and pray in solidarity for a community deeply affected by the violence-causing cycle of despair, racism and poverty.”

The Via Crucis begins at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2751 West 38th Place in Chicago, where actors will reenact washing of Jesus’ feet and the Last Supper. The Peace Walk begins, and the Via Crucis continues, at 12 p.m. outside of Our Lady of Fatima Church. The procession will travel to Five Holy Martyrs Church, 4327 South Richmond Street in Chicago, with other stops along the way. Cardinal Cupich will join the procession at 12:45 p.m., where he will walk and pray with community members.

At 1 p.m., the procession will arrive at Immaculate Conception, 2745 West 44th Street in Chicago. Cardinal Cupich will offer a blessing in English and Spanish and he will be joined by students who recently travelled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the March for Our Lives. Each of the students has been personally affected by gun violence. Following Cardinal’s blessing, the Via Crucis will resume with the crucifixion of Jesus.

At the conclusion of Cardinal Cupich’s remarks, the Peace Walk and Via Crucis procession will continue to St. Simon the Apostle Church, 5157 South California Avenue, where it will conclude at 2:30 p.m.

Source: The Archdiocese of Chicago to Host Via Crucis and Peace Walk on Good Friday