Stations of the Cross Walk Held in Downtown Harrisburg

Pax Christi conducted its annual Walking Way of the Cross through downtown Harrisburg on Friday, April 3, 2026, to commemorate Good Friday. The event combined traditional religious observance with calls for social reform, connecting the biblical journey of Jesus to contemporary themes of peace and justice.

The walk lasted approximately one and a half hours and led participants through 14 different locations in the city. These stops were designed to symbolize the 14 stations of the cross, reflecting the final hours of Jesus’ life.

At each of the 14 stops, participants read a gospel passage accompanied by a commentary regarding current social justice issues. The route specifically included stops at various city institutions.

Focus on Social Justice

Rev. Sandy Strauss explained that the decision to stop at city institutions was intended to challenge those organizations to exercise justice. Strauss stated that this approach was necessary because many entities are complicit in the injustices present in society.

We don’t celebrate Jesus’ death, but we do know in order to get to the resurrection, we have to move through that phase of death. So, the promise of new life, and I think that’s where the good comes from.

Rev. Sandy Strauss

The event drew a mix of returning participants and first-time attendees, who joined together in singing prayers throughout the procession.

Doug Davis, who participated for the first time, described the event as a contemplative experience. Davis noted that the walk allowed him to reflect on the journey to the cross while exploring spiritual aspects of his life he had not previously experienced.

Regional Good Friday Observances

The Harrisburg event was part of a broader series of Good Friday processions across South-Central Pennsylvania. Various churches and organizations throughout the Susquehanna Valley held similar events to showcase the journey to the cross through the lens of modern peace and justice themes.

In Lancaster, the church San Juan Bautista held its annual Stations of the Cross at 12 p.m. On Friday, April 3, 2026. This procession, which has been a tradition for over 40 years, involves a multi-stop re-enactment of the final hours of Jesus through the city streets.

a community Stations of the Cross walk took place at noon in Columbia, located in Lancaster County. Organizers indicated that the Columbia walk began at Mount Zion.