Elgin church celebrates Good Friday with passion

Christians around the world paused to remember the pivotal event in their faith Friday, yet few traditions are as strong as the event organized each year by parishioners from St. Joseph Catholic Church on Elgin's near-east side.

Streets and sidewalks filled shoulder to shoulder Friday afternoon as hundreds of people flooded the Division Street area near St. Joseph Catholic Church during the annual Good Friday passion walk. The hourlong procession recreates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and marks the beginning of Easter weekend for Christians.

Groups of parishioners took turns sharing the burden, carrying the heavy wooden cross through the east-side neighborhood known as Holy Hill because of the concentration of churches in that section of downtown. Women gathered and carried the fifteen-foot cross, then boys and girls from the parish each took their turns in groups with the procession stopping occasionally to offer a prayer in Spanish and resuming with more song. Nearby residents gathered on their front lawns to watch the stirring procession pass. Finally the men helped carry the cross back to the church where the service concluded.

Good Friday is also known as Black Friday, Great Friday or Easter Friday.