Carrying the Cross: Pastors David Soden, front, and Michael Porzio, take up the cross as more than 80 people prepared to follow the second annual Cross Walk to Veterans Park on Good Friday.They carried the cross to Veterans Park in Lehigh where special services were held. Photo by MEL TOADVINE

This was the second year that several local ministers and several members of their church congregations and others marched behind the cross being dragged down the sidewalk of Lee Blvd. and Homestead Rd., finally arriving at Veterans Park some 90 minutes later.

The Cross Walk began just a few minutes after 5 p.m. on Good Friday at the Walmart parking lot, after everyone was asked to be careful as they walked down the sidewalks and to watch the children. Then a prayer was held and Pastors David Soden and Michael Porizo were the first two clergymen to pick up the cross together as 80 or more people who had met at the parking lot and walked behind.

Like last year the temperatures were hovering around 80 and the sun was warm. Those following carried water with them and many pushed strollers with young children.

Various members of the clergy from the Evangelical Ministerial Alliance (EMA) took turns carrying the heavy cross. Several followers took turns, too, as they walked down the two boulevards as people honked their horn to show support.

Some people stopped their cars and joined in the walk.

The Cross Walk was put on by the group’s 12 different churches and their congregations. Last year the event was a success as a few hundred people followed the cross by the time it arrived at Veterans Park.

Special Good Friday services began at around 6:30 p.m. and lasted for about an hour or so. Pastors Soden and Porizo are officers of the EMA. The Cross Walk lasted for about 90 minutes and many of those following were new this year and several took turns dragging the cross down Lee and Homestead. The ceremony was in observance of Christ who carried his cross to be crucified more than 2,000 years ago. He was later risen on Easter morning, according to the Scriptures.

“This is something we as Christians want to do. Remembering what Christ had to endure while carrying his cross and being beaten is something we think about during the walk,” said Pastor Soden.

The EMA plans to continue this event each year as crowds draw larger. It was the only public religious community event held over the sacred Christian holidays in Lehigh.

One newcomer, Dewey Tyler and his 13-year-old son, joined in the Cross Walk. He is originally from Vietnam and was a member of the Buddha religion. He is now Roman Catholic.

“It was something I just wanted to do,” he said.