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Easter observed in La Crosse with a walk and a cross ceremony by Mississippi River

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The Franciscan Spiritual Center stages an Easter ceremony on March 30, 2024, including a wooden cross on the La Crosse riverfront (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

A large wooden cross was carried along the riverfront in La Crosse on Good Friday, as part of an Easter tradition that has been sponsored for 15 years by the Franciscan Spiritual Center of La Crosse.

The group bearing the cross walked to downtown from Viterbo University and held a brief ceremony in Riverside Park.

A group observing Easter weekend in La Crosse carries a wooden cross through Riverside Park on March 30, 2024 (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

Organizer Sarah Hennessey from the spiritual center said the group procession is designed to emulate the Stations of the Cross experienced by Jesus before the crucifixion.

Hennessey added that people taking part in the ceremony called attention to local concerns, including homelessness, hunger and water quality.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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1 Comment

  1. Mity Mite

    March 30, 2024 at 4:46 pm

    “…designed to emulate the Stations of the Cross…” It is also designed to confuse the traditional Christian observance of Easter with a progressive secular social agenda.

    Emulate: verb, to match or surpass, typically by imitation.

    There is only one Stations of the Cross and what is portrayed in this story is not it. I find this deeply offensive.

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