Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands

Sydney
6 April 2003

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Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands

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Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands

By Damir Govorcin

Members of the Coffs Harbour Council of Churches are offering the Way of the Cross in an environmentally new format.

On the second Sunday in Lent, participants met to pray and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus as they made their way through the wetlands at Marian Grove Retirement Village, Sawtell, on the mid north coast of NSW.

The village is a project of Sawtell Catholic Care for the Aged and its surrounds include areas of native forest and wetlands.

A boardwalk along a section of the kilometre-long bush track enables walkers to experience the natural surroundings at close quarters.

“This tends to lead them to wonder at the beauty of God’s creation and to a deepening concern for environmental justice,” says Frank Kennedy, manager of Marian Grove Retirement Village.

At intervals along the boardwalk, wooden crosses mark nine events recorded by the Gospels as having taken place during Jesus’ journey to Calvary on the first Good Friday.

Relevant passages of the Gospel are read before each cross and, after a period of silence, a reader focuses on environmental/social issues.

For example, the ninth station, Jesus is laid in the tomb, links this event to the “death of the Earth” with a few sentences stating sobering facts about global warming, air and waterpollution, salinity and the loss of native forests and agricultural productivity.

After pausing for reflection, the Passion event and the environmental issue are brought together in a short prayer.

There is no cross at the 10th station, but an opportunity to reflect on a beautiful pond fed by pure water from a catchment nearby.

A short passage from St Matthew’s account of the Resurrection is followed by a proclamation of “hope for the future of Creation”.

The next Environmental Way of the Cross - open to people of all religions - will be at 2pm and 4pm on Palm Sunday.

For more information call Sr Fidelis on (02) 6658 4580.