The Pandemic Makes The Way Of The Cross Procession In Ambon City Abolished

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The way of the cross of life commemorating the suffering that Jesus Christ went through and referring to the depiction of the last times, had to be abolished in the celebration of Good Friday in Ambon City due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cathedral Parish Priest, Paul Kalkoy, is concerned that the risk that if the way of the cross of life is still carried out, will be quite large because it involves many people.

"Because it is not an easy thing if the way of the cross of life is carried out in this pandemic situation. So we have to limit it because we involve a lot of people, and that's across parishes and across Catholic churches," said Cathedral Parish Priest, Paul Kalkoy, in Ambon, Friday, April 15, quoted from Antara.

The way of the cross of life previously used to be often done in Ambon City. And the route goes through every church.

"The way of life's cross has actually not worked for several years, so the last one was in 2018 and then it was entered into a pandemic," said Paul Kalkoy.

In addition, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Ambon City, the Ambon Cathedral church has also restricted visits to Good Friday worship this year.

"We are still there for the virtual world because no matter what happens there are parents or children, we will still apply strict health protocols. So for parents and children, we are still unable to come to church, that's why until now we are still making it virtual to serve them today," he explained.

For the sacrament service, after Sunday, the parish team will then be escorted by the parish team to serve them in their respective homes.

This worship provides a narrative or depiction of the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ in a world full of suffering. For Catholics, the Way of the Cross is a reminder of Jesus' willingness to put aside His divine authority to save humanity through His sacrifice.

In Latin the Way of the Cross is called Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa which means the Way of Suffering. Worship of the Way of the Cross is one of the Catholic devotions in which this form of prayer is not an official part of the general liturgy of the Church but is part of the well-known spiritual practices of Catholics.

Looking back in time, the devotion to the Way of the Cross has long roots in the Catholic Church, beginning with the tradition of pilgrims visiting Jerusalem. Since the fourth century, during the time of Emperor Constantine, pilgrims have had a tradition of praying contemplating the passion of Jesus.

They, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, are said to have followed the route of Jesus' passion. At first this tradition only developed in Jerusalem and the surrounding area until in the 12th century the worship of the Way of the Cross had just begun to enter the western world.