As the Schoenstatt Pilgrimage of Christ walked along the streets of downtown Austin, some onlookers videoed us, while others looked mystified by the crowd and asked questions.

The group of walkers was made up of old and young people, families, neighbors, college students and priests. Some even traveled from out of town to participate in the nine-mile commemoration of Jesus Christ’s walk to Calvary on Good Friday.

The annual Good Friday Pilgrimage is organized by the Schoenstatt Marian Shrine of Austin and by students from the University of Texas Catholic Center. The students brought the passion of Christ to life by reenacting the Stations of the Cross during stops throughout the day-long journey. Additionally, priests joined the walk offering the sacrament of reconciliation along the way.

The walk began at St. Mary Cathedral and traveled through downtown Austin, under Mopac, onto Bee Caves Road, and eventually to the Schoenstatt Shrine, where a final service was held.

Nearly 1,000 people participated in the 2024 event.

Over the course of the afternoon, I was absolutely touched by the sense of community that developed amongst the crowd. As the warm hours stretched on, sun-kissed toddlers slept in their mothers’ arms, and college couples held hands and eagerly discussed theology.

Although the day was, of course, marked by the remembrance of suffering and grief, there was great joy to be found in spending the day with fellow Catholics. The walk provided several members of my parish youth group and myself with the opportunity to discuss Christ’s passion, and we greatly appreciated having the time to bond.

Perhaps the most moving sight of the day was a pack of elementary school–aged boys who were leading the charge at the front, near to Jesus carrying the cross. These boys prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet together most reverently while looking on at Jesus with incredible peace and tenderness. How beautiful to see young children have an ardent desire to walk with the cross, to be close to Christ and follow him!

In a world that places heavy emphasis on individualism and modernity, it is only natural that onlookers would be surprised by such a group of pilgrims. There is a stark contrast between the world’s pursuit of pleasure and the suffering and pain Christ endured for us. The reality of crucifixion is often too horrific for many to imagine.

Perhaps this is the very reason that we as Catholics keep the image of the cross at the forefront of our lives, and at the forefront of our Good Friday observance: to remember the pain that Christ endured on our behalf, which reveals his remarkable love for us. It is this love that defines our mission as Christians — a call to go out and make disciples of all the nations.

This year’s Good Friday Pilgrimage is April 18. Visit schoenstatt-austin.us/calendar or call (512) 330-0602 for more information.