Good Friday is the only day within the Catholic Liturgical Year where Mass is not said. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation but, the faithful are encouraged to reflect on the significance of the day and we still attend Good Friday service in a Church where the altar has been stripped of all decorations, all icons wrapped in purple drapes, the Tabernacle open and empty.

Our parish joins with other Christian denominations in the borough which starts from the farthest point of the district boundary. The congregation of that Church, led by their Vicar or Pastor, then process the route of the procession, stopping along the way to "pick up" the next community of processors. Then they merge and proceed to the next Church and so on and so forth. My parish is the last in the route as we are closest to the heath where the procession ends. At the head of the procession is a funeral hearse. In it is a cross. As we process, we say prayers common to all of us. Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians are a few of the denominations that we walk together with. Sometimes, along the route, we are joined by other people. They come down from buses, out of their homes, pedestrians, joggers etc.

Last year, a child with his mother stood and watched as we passed by. The child asked, audible to many in the procession: "Who died, Mum?"

wow lola that sounds like a good bit of church work...its great to think of all denominasions joinning in as well as just passerbies that feel inclined to .....i dont think their is anything similare in belfast ...

oh and lola have you not got p looking for confessions for communion etc and more happie with the state of her in relashion to that and the church. Now that brings peace...thank you, love ya

I know for sure it missed many as well, Celtic. And the Church was poorer in the absence. Peace begins inside each person. The rest will find and settle with theirs. The door remains open.

door always was but amidst harsh criticisum and condemnation no wee sead would grow or flower as it was too bisie protecting itself agenst those harsh winds, that blow from no change...so someone had to build a shelter or at lest a windbraker, which was done so now we got a hart in flower..peace may have been always accesable but it takes a certine atmosphire free from need of protection from one to feel safe enough to belive again, that this is there places too....thats been done.
gess it was a joint effort...

Celtic, that was beautiful! Well said!

Very true. I am so touched with what you've said, Celtic.

your verie verie welcome lola..and all this time i though you were just giggling over nonsences and sllies... and the speed of darkness etc...oh did you google the equasion for that one yet lol wasent it one of einstines??