Procession put off due to state of emergency

THE stations of the cross procession that the Catholic church stages every year on Good Friday will not happen this year because of the state of emergency due to Covid-19.
St Peter Channel parish priest Fr Michael Ploszcztca (SVD) said the normal procession in Port Moresby was not possible this year but he urged Catholics to pray and celebrate Easter at
home.
The stations of the cross, or way of the cross, are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus’ last day on Earth as a man.
The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation.
The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station.
At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ’s last day.
Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to the next station until all 14 are complete.
Parishioner Walter Some said every year, during the Holy Week on Thursday, the Catholics around the city gathered at the parish where the Cross was and celebrate the last passover
mass and then, early on Friday morning, they carried the cross from St Peter Channel church to the parish that would hold the cross until the next Easter celebration.
He said this year’s procession was supposed to be from Erima to 5-Mile to Boroko to 2-Mile and then to Town’s St Mary’s parish.