Missionary families of Christ organised way of the cross at the Mae de deus church Saligao.

Missionary families of Christ organised way of the cross at the Mae de deus church Saligao.

Missionary families of Christ organised way of the cross at the Mae de deus church Saligao. The Way of the Cross, locally known as the Khursachi Vatt in Konkani, is a tradition practiced by the Catholic community in Goa. Having started ages ago, this act of penance is commonly practiced during the season of Lent.

A station can be defined as a pit stop between each recitation of the prayer. While there are 14 stations of the cross, each station has a specific image of what Jesus went through on his journey to Calvary. The faithful stop at each station and reflect in prayerful solidarity.

During  the way of cross each  member from the community stepped  forward and stood facing the rest of the crowd while holding the crucifix up. The practice also involves kneeling down after every station as a form of reverence.

This motion is repeated until the 14th station of the cross after which the service ends. Every village has its unique way of celebrating the Way of the Cross and the stations of the cross lead uphill to the Holy Cross.

In other places, there is a tradition of people carrying a heavy cross during the stations of the cross to signify Jesus’s suffering and in some parishes, the Way of the Cross is held around the church

As the service begins and the crucifix is handed from one person to the next, many look forward to this honour, while others shy away from being the centre of attraction.

Customarily followed every Friday during the Lenten season (Friday is observed to be the day when Jesus was crucified), the Way of the Cross is an act of commemorating the journey of the suffering of Jesus Christ by walking in his footsteps.

Some of the important elements of the Way of the Cross are the wooden cross or crucifix and the recitation of the Stations of the Cross.