News Release #351

Released to media on April 14, 2003

New Ulm, MN - In many Christian churches, the observance of Holy Week (the last week of Lent), and Easter Sunday, are at the heart of the Christian faith.  It is a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. Unique to the Catholic community is The Way of the Cross, a spiritual pilgrimage reenacting the historic events of Christ’s suffering and death in Jerusalem. This Catholic devotion is meant to assist the faithful in spirit through a pilgrimage to the principal scenes of Christ's sufferings and death.

On Good Friday, April 18 at 3:00 p.m., The Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm, will lead a public prayer and meditation on the 14 Stations of the Cross, walking along the pathway marked by lifelike images portrayed in statuary, that retell the story of Christ’s trial, crucifixion, and death. People of all faiths are invited.

The Way of the Cross is a shrine of the Diocese of New Ulm located on the campus of the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The fourteen stations, grotto, and Lady of Sorrows Chapel were created by the Sisters of the Order of the Poor Hand Maids of Jesus Christ. The seasonal maintenance of the shrine and fundraising for any restoration efforts is a joint project of the local Knights of Columbus Council 1076, a fraternal insurance organization, and the Diocesan Way of the Cross Committee. Restoration of the shrine has been dependent on voluntary contribution from individuals and organizations from across the state of Minnesota and beyond.