Stations of the Cross

Parishioners of the the Holy Spirit Parish started their walk at the Housing Commission where Christians braved the scorching heat of the sun in prayer and songs showcasing praying and meditating on the 14 devotions of Jesus Christ from his condemnation to his crucifixion.

Thousands of men, women and children took part in the walk, which started St Charles Lwanga Parish in Gerehu and will end at the St Joseph Parish in East Boroko.

The 14 stations are located at different parts of the scheduled route. The first station was Charles Lawanga, the next at Rainbow, NRI,  Adcol, Boulevard, VC, Highlander, Hohola bus stop, PNG Power, Foodland Bus stop, Port Moresby General Hospital bus stop, Vadavada Roundabout, China Town and the final station is the St Joseph Parish, East Boroko where it ends with the Veneration of the Cross.

Around midday today, Cardinal Sir John Ribat welcomed the cross brought in by the congregation and parishioners of St Paul.

Despite the extreme heat of the sun, the congregation came in numbers, escorted by traffic police, to the final station.

Cardinal Sir John made an entrance to bless the Cross before it was to be brought into the church.

The veneration of the Cross is scheduled to take place at 3pm this afternoon.

This is known to be the ‘Hour of the Lord’ and believed to be the time that Jesus died on the Cross.

The faithful and enthusiastic who walked the way of the cross this morning in the nation’s capital each have a reason why they walk.

For one 18-year-old, Theo Aron, he did not walk the way of the cross, rather he woke up from his sleeping area under the Waigani freeway tunnel as police came in to move them out in anticipation of the walk passing through.

Loop PNG observed the men and women in blue holding off traffic and providing escort to the front and the rear of the procession.

The Superintendent of operations, Michael Tilae, says this is part of the normal police operations for the city during the Easter season.

The police were out since 3am along the Cross route and helping to hold off traffic as well.

Christians woke up as early as 3am to make the trip to the Queen Mary of the Pacific Church in Waigani and follow the cross as it journeyed around the nation’s capital.

The cross will go through Waigani CBD then around Gordon’s through to Waigani Drive and end up at Gerehu stage 6 for the traditional Easter Friday mass.

Catholic parishioners, families, Bomana inmates, armed service representatives as well as the general public were out in full force as a show of faith to mark this iconic religious event.

According to the Archdiocese of Port Moresby the route will start at the Mary Queen of Pacific Parish at 4am led by the parishioners and UPNG Students.

Station 2 will be at Waigani Office which will be lead with the prayers by Martin de Poress then on to the Somare Foundation where the third station will be led by St Peter Channel and Holy Name of Jesus Parish.

The fourth station at Courts will be led by St Joseph’s parishioners and Anglican followed by the fifth station at RSPCA led by St Mary’s Cathedral parishioners.

Loop PNG spoke to an officer of traffics who urged those walking and who will be walking to take precautions when walking.

He said the risk of opportunisst taking advantage of this Good Friday walk is high.

Those walking are encouraged to leave their important personal belongings at home to avoid being nabbed during the walk.

"We will try to do what we can around here but we will need the general public to work together with us."

Police will be escorting the crowd while the Cross is being moved from one station to the next.

The Good Friday walk for the Station of the Cross began early this morning leaving the Don Bosco Technological Institute campus to take the long route to the Waigani parish.

Easter falls on the Holy Week which is the last week of lent -commonly starting off with Palm Sunday.

This is followed by Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

This Easter, Catholics and faithful’s in the nation’s capital will once again walk the Stations of the Cross tomorrow morning as part of their Easter ritual.

The scheduled route for the Stations of the Cross in Port Moresby will start at Don Bosco Technical Institute at 4am in the morning.