Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island is welcoming back its annual tradition of in-person walking of the Stations of the Cross prayer services at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury on one of the most solemn days of the Christian calendar during the 2022 Lenten season. One of the largest attended events for Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, Catholic faithful across Long Island are invited to return and take part in the tradition of following a 1.5-mile walking route throughout Holy Rood to commemorate Christ’s redemptive sacrifice through 14 stations each year on Good Friday, which is April 15 this year.
Each station is signified by a different cross/sculpture at the cemetery. Deacons from Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island will assist in leading the service for attendees.
The Stations of the Cross walking services were cancelled each of the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, hundreds are expected to take part in the Good Friday services. Faithful can also experience Holy Rood’s Stations of the Cross on their own with self-directed tours or via a virtual option for those who wish to partake from their homes.
The Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island’s Virtual Stations of the Cross can be viewed by visiting YouTube at the following link: Virtual Stations of the Cross Video.
Faithful utilizing the self-directed option who are walking the Stations of the Cross on their own can download the Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island Stations of the Cross Prayer Booklet as a guide with specific prayers at each station:
Prayer booklets may also be picked up at Holy Rood Chapel. The Cemetery of the Holy Rood, located at 111 Old Country Rd. in Westbury, is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Chapel closing at 4:30 p.m. daily.
“Due to restrictions relating to the pandemic over the past two years, we offered a virtual Stations of the Cross for those wishing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus during his journey to Calvary. It is necessary to offer families the opportunity to connect with our Lord’s sacrifice which leads to his triumph over death and the promise of eternal life. Our in-person Stations of the Cross services – both guided with our deacons and self-directed – are back for 2022 as we expect large numbers of faithful to attend,” said Richard Bie, president/CEO of Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island.
Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island owns and operates four cemeteries across Long Island including Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram, Queen of All Saints Cemetery in Central Islip and Queen of Peace Cemetery in Old Westbury. Queen of Peace is the first new Catholic cemetery to open on Long Island in decades and its chapel is expect to completed by the summer of 2022.
Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island is dedicated to meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of the more than 1.4 million Catholics across the Diocese of Rockville Centre, which encompasses Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.
For more information about Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, mass schedule and other important information, please visit www.CCLongIsland.org.
