Friday walk.L-R Adele Lobo, Lisa Garland, TJ Sini, Rafael Abela, Father Suresh and Annabelle Bhandoo. Photo: Gene Ramirez
ABOUT 1000 young people from across western Sydney will walk from Blacktown to Parramatta to reflect on the meaning of the death of Christ on Good Friday night (March 29).
The walkers, partly led by the Bishop of Parramatta Anthony Fisher, will be hosted along the way by Catholic parishes at Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Westmead, North Parramatta and Parramatta.
The Good Friday Walk and Talk with the Lord, organised by the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, is now in its third year.
The walk will start at 10.30pm at St Patrick’s Church at Allawah Street, Blacktown and finish at St Patrick’s Cathedral at Marist Place, Parramatta about 7.30am on Saturday.
Bishop Anthony Fisher will walk with the group from Blacktown to Seven Hills then rejoin them at St Monica’s Parish in North Parramatta for the last leg.
Walk organiser Father Suresh Kumar, the youth director for the Diocese of Parramatta, said the number of people taking part in the walk was growing each year.
“About 400 young people made the 21-kilometre journey in 2011,’’ he said.
‘‘Last year that number increased to 800 and this year we anticipate there will be many more.
“Young people are invited to join us in remembering the journey our Lord took to Calvary by coming together for this all-night walk.
“We’ll be visiting parish communities, praying the Stations of the Cross, and spending time in prayer, song and reflection.
‘‘There will be rest breaks and refreshments along the way,” Father Suresh said.
At the end of the walk, the young people will pray the final Stations of the Cross in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
More than chocolate
■The Stations is a series of prayerful reflections depicting Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion in the final hours (or Passion) of Christ before he died.
■The highlight of the Christian calendar is Easter Sunday when Christians throughout the world celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
■Will you go to church this Easter?
■Your voice: blacktownsun.com.au.