Great turnout for the 'Trocaire' Stations of the Cross in Templemore Town Park

The annual Trocaire Good Friday Stations of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, took place around the Lake in the Town Park last Friday.

The event was blessed with blue skies and there was a fine attendance. Stations were led by students from Our Lady’s Secondary School including Cormac Bourke, James Leahy, Shane Leahy, Zara Hennessy, Chloe Myles, Joe Johnston and Fr. Francis.

Many stations focused on the plight of people enduring lives of deprivation and hunger in many parts of the world. A stark reflection on the plight of the children of Gaza was read by Frances Maxwell.

Concluding prayers were led by Fr. Hayes and great thanks are due to Mary d’Estellle-Roe for all her dedication and hard work in organising this special event which is so meaningful to so many. The Via Dolorosa, which is the Latin for “Sorrowful Way”, is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem.

It represents the path that Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from the former Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a distance of about 600 metres, is a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage.

The current route was established in the 18th century, replacing various earlier versions. Today it is marked by 14 Stations of the Cross, nine of which are outside on the street with five stations inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.