Stations of the Cross marches through downtown Parkersburg
Attendees walk down Juliana Street during the Stations of the Cross walk Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Andrew Myers holds the cross in front of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church on Market Street while Lori Myers and Father Greg Myers listen during a reading of one of the stations. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Andrew Myers, right, carries the cross as Tom Linder from St. Monica Catholic Church in Lubeck walks beside him during the Stations of the Cross walk Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
The Stations of the Cross attendees begin their walk on Market Street. The purpose of the walk is to commemorate Jesus Christ’s journey from Good Friday to Easter. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Attendees walk down Juliana Street during the Stations of the Cross walk Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Andrew Myers holds the cross in front of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church on Market Street while Lori Myers and Father Greg Myers listen during a reading of one of the stations. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Andrew Myers, right, carries the cross as Tom Linder from St. Monica Catholic Church in Lubeck walks beside him during the Stations of the Cross walk Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
The Stations of the Cross attendees begin their walk on Market Street. The purpose of the walk is to commemorate Jesus Christ’s journey from Good Friday to Easter. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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PARKERSBURG -- Individuals across different denominations united Friday to commemorate Jesus's journey on Good Friday.
The Stations of the Cross is a collaboration of several downtown Parkersburg churches honoring Jesus Christ's journey from being sentenced to death on Friday to rising to heaven on Sunday.
A program detailing 14 moments during that time was distributed to participants. The walk began at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, where Father John Rice began the ceremony. Attendees had two options: stay at St. Francis for their ceremony or walk to different churches throughout downtown. A leader would carry a cross to represent Jesus carrying one.
Approximately 60 people joined the march.
"We get together with pilgrims from other churches," Father Greg Myers of St. Patrick's Anglican Church said. "This is our way to acknowledge Jesus's suffering on Good Friday."
His son, Andrew, carried the cross from St. Xavier to St. Patrick's, the first stop of the walk.
"It's emotional for me because I grew up marching in parades down Market Street," he said. "Now I'm going the other direction and representing Jesus."
After St. Patrick's, the crowd went to St. Paul's United Methodist. At each stop on the walk, that church's pastor or leader would read from the program and invite the crowd to pray with them.
During the walk, Lt. Anthony Rowe from the Salvation Army sounded a drum while walking in the back.
"This lets people know we're coming and what this day is about. It's about Christ and what he did for us," he said.
The walk also visited First United Methodist on Juliana Street, Logan United Methodist on Ann Street, and Trinity Episocopal Church on Juliana Street before having a reception at the Salvation Army on Fifth Street.
Sherry West, one of the event's organizers, said she hoped the event would be an example.
"We worship with people of other faiths. To people who don't come, I hope we can be an example."
West said the event originated in the 1980's but went away for a few years. It started again about 18 years ago.
Attendee Beth Stockner said she lived in Market Manor and heard Rowe's drum outside. She saw the walk and decided to join in.
Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com