A few dozen dedicated Catholics braved hail and lightning on Friday, as they carried a wooden cross through downtown Prince Albert.
For Bishop Albert Thévenot, it’s a Good Friday tradition that connects the story of Christ’s death to injustice in the modern world – using the stations of the cross to symbolize issues like poverty, racism and addiction.
“We look at how Christ went through different steps in the last hours of his life,” he said. “We bring them to the reality of our everyday life.”
The procession began at City Hall, where Bishop Thévenot spoke of Pilate’s judgement and called on the marchers to fight injustice.
“Do we have the courage to speak up for those that have no voice, or do we opt for a quiet life hoping others will take charge?” he asked.
The bishop carried the cross himself, as far as the Salvation Army. At each station of the cross, the marchers paused to pray. The third stop, at the liquor store on 9 Street, marked Jesus’s first fall – drawing a symbolic connection with the struggles of alcoholism.
There, Guy Perrault took the cross. His four children helped him carry the burden to the Prince Albert Food Bank. Nine-year-old Elie-Ann complained about the cold weather – but Guy was determined to carry on.
“Jesus Christ, he carried the cross and he suffered enormously for us,” Perrault said. “There’s no amount of suffering we could have that would compare to what he did. Braving the weather, that’s mild in comparison.”
For more on this story, see the April 18 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
