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Brad Williams, of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, carries the cross as Good Friday celebrants exit the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland during an ecumenical event held on the city’s Holy Hill. (Greg Larry/Special to the Review)

Good Friday gathering in Cumberland welcomes multiple denominations


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Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Lent, Local News, News, Western Vicariate

CUMBERLAND – A demonstration of Christian love was on display in Cumberland April 15 as an ecumenical Good Friday procession wound its way through a part of the city known as “Holy Hill.”

Four churches participated in the Way of the Cross as patrons prayed at 14 stations memorializing Jesus Christ’s last hours on earth.

The gathering took place where four churches are located within two square blocks overlooking the city.

“It was so nice to see the churches come together on Holy Hill here in Cumberland to pray together and worship on this wonderful day of Good Friday,” said Joe George, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Mountains and a member of Cumberland’s city council. “It was wonderful to see Christians together in this time of great strife in our world.”

A Good Friday procession in Cumberland shows walkers traveling from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Washington Street. Shown (from left) are the Rev. Ryan Viands (in black), Capuchin Franciscan Father James Watson and the Rev. Martha McGill. (Greg Larry/Special to the Review)

The service was led by the Rev. Alison Peters of First Presbyterian Church. Other participating Cumberland-area faith leaders included Capuchin Franciscan Father James Watson, associate pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains; the Rev. Martha McGill of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Rev. Ryan Vians of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

The Way of the Cross began at the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul at noon, with various stations of the cross prayed at each of the four churches. Brad Williams, of Emmanuel Episcopal, led the procession, holding the cross high to honor Christ’s suffering.

The procession then moved on to St. Paul’s, followed by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, finishing at First Presbyterian. Each of the churches had its doors open to welcome the walkers. Some of the participants admired the handcrafted Stations of the Cross inside the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul, which George said were imported from Munich, Germany, in 1906.

Throughout the gathering, participants bowed their heads in prayer.

“It was a beautiful expression of love for Christ dying on the cross for us and I think it is important to participate in that,” Father Watson said. “We come together to pray not just for ourselves, but for the world. I think it is important to show we are united in the cross, showing the sacrifice of Christ’s love.”

Rev. Peters said it was good to come together on such an important day of the liturgical year.

“It is a beautiful thing for people to see our community in a new way,” she said, “that we are here to serve and to celebrate.”

Rev. McGill noted that with new pastors at some of the churches of the area, it’s important to come together “to give hope and joy through these turbulent times.” 

Carla Zinn, a Cumberland resident, said she was “very excited” to see all the churches.

“It was nice to see us all in fellowship together,” she said. “I love churches coming together in Christianity and focus on all the good things God has given us.”

Approximately 75 people participated in the Way of the Cross.

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