Chicago Good Friday Walk

WHO WILL CARRY THE WORD

To remember, To speak, To act, To imagine

The above was the theme of the 8th Day Center’s GOOD FRIDAY WALK FOR JUSTICE which took place in Chicago’s loop.  As members of 8th Day, seven IBVM sisters and associates joined in the 29th annual walk based on the Stations of the Cross.  Starting at the Congress plaza IBVM Associates Chris Teichler and Lettie Esteviz, and IBVM sisters Lorraine Crawford, Pat Pendleton, Frances McCarron, Christa Parra, and Arlene Ashack joined the procession.   Together the gathered “people of hope” processed to the Board of Trade, the Federal Plaza, the Daley Plaza and ended at the Thompson Center Plaza. 

As the booklet explained, “the contemporary Station prayers, prepared by various justice-seeking coalitions/communities, call us to be in solidarity with those suffering at the hands of the ‘powers and principalities’ in which communities of people and planet Earth continue to be condemned, stripped of dignity, tortured and killed by unjust public policies.”

The theme of the walk, in the form of a question, challenged each of us, especially the hundreds participating, to bear the personal responsibility of remembering those suffering, the oh, too prevalent, violence and injustices in the world.  It continues to challenge us to join together to imagine new possibilities and dare to make them happen.

Each station/prayer, presented by a particular group and focusing on a particular issue, reminded us that “we can do together what no one of us can do alone.”  Issues such as workers’ rights, immigration, gender based violence, environment, war, torture, justice in the church were transformed into prayers, giving witness to all who passed by.

In keeping with the reputation of the “Windy City”, the weather that promised to be mild transmuted into an increasingly piercing cold day.  Our bodies were challenged as much as our hearts and minds.  Nothing, however, muted the spirit among the participants.  Being “people of hope” the promise of resurrection carried everyone forward. 

The Walk is over but the challenge is not.  We ask you to join with us in accepting the challenge inscribed on the iron-on patch handed out to each participant.

IMAGINE…

truth honored

voices rising

people united

SO ALL MAY LIVE.