Stations of the Cross in a once devastated "Katrina" community

Faithful ascend Mississippi River levee in Chalmette for Way of the Cross service

Published: Friday, April 06, 2012

By Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune In Chalmette, the Mississippi River levee was the site for a Way of the Cross service for parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Good Friday.

Enlarge Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune RUSTY COSTANZA / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE A young man with a prayer book and rosary prays during Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church's annual Way of the Cross and Rosary Walk along the Mississippi River Levee in Chalmette, Louisiana, Friday, April 6, 2012. Our Lady of Lourdes Stations of the Cross March 6, 2012 gallery (8 photos)

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The object of the Way of the Cross is to help the faithful to make in spirit, as it were, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death, and this has become one of the most popular of Catholic devotions. It is carried out by passing from station to station, with certain prayers at each and devout meditation on the various incidents in turn.

 

 

>>>To my faithful readers: The community of Chalmette was one of the most completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  Located in St. Bernard Parish, every building and structure, with the exception of about 5, was destroyed by water.  At the time of Katrina, over 50,000 people lived in St. Bernard.

 

Before Katrina, St, Bernard Parish(civil) had 7 Catholic Church parishes.  To date, only 3 have managed to come back and serve the people of God.  Because of population shifts, these 3 parishes will probably remain the only 3 for years to come but they are truly robust today.  This wonderful tradition of walking the stations of the Cross along the levee that keeps the Mississippi River from reaching dry land.

 

Enjoy this greater New Orleans area Catholic tradition!