Processions In Ridgewood, Bushwick
One of the holiest days on the Christian calendar, Good Friday, will be marked locally tomorrow, Mar. 29, with a host of processions and prayer vigils across the Times Newsweekly’s coverage area.
All are invited to participate in the solemn services marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and a prelude to Easter Sunday, Mar. 31, which celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
Members of six different churches in Ridgewood, Glendale and Middle Village will come together for a procession through Ridgewood streets scheduled to take place tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
As announced, the march will begin at the corner of Bleecker Street and 61st Place, adjacent to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (OLMM) Church. Parishioners from OLMM and five other churches-St. Pancras in Glendale, St. Brigid on the Ridgewood/ Bushwick border in Brooklyn, St. Matthias in Ridgewood and St. Margaret and Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village-are expected to participate.
Leading the way will be the pastors of several of the participating churches, including Fr. Anthony Sassone of OLMM, Msgr. James Kelly of St. Brigid, Msgr. Steven Aguggia of St. Margaret and Msgr. Edward Scharfenberger of St. Matthias.
From the starting point, the procession will move west along Bleecker Street to Fairview Avenue, then turn south on Fairview Avenue to Forest Avenue. The march will then move south on Forest Avenue before turning west onto Catalpa Avenue to St. Matthias Church, at the corner of Catalpa and Woodward avenues.
Following a brief stop for prayers in front of St. Matthias, the procession will resume by heading south on Onderdonk Avenue, then east on 69th Avenue to 60th Place. The march will then turn north on 60th Place back to OLMM, where the procession will conclude with closing prayers inside of the church.
Among the other religious organizations sponsoring the march are Societa Concordia Partanna, Maria Santissima del Balzo di Bisaquino, Santa Margherita Belice, Associazione La Lambada, Associazione
Artistica La Zagara, Maria Delle Grazie di Montevago and the Associazione Cultursonale di New York.
Four Good Friday processions are also scheduled to take place in Bushwick tomorrow.
The first will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church, located at 1288 Hancock St. One hour later, parishioners from St. Barbara Church will take to the streets outside of the house of worship located at 138 Bleecker St. at 11 a.m.
St. Brigid Church will hold their own Good Friday march at 1 p.m. at 409 Linden St., and St. Joseph’s Church will hold a nighttime vigil and procession at 7:30 p.m., beginning from their church located at 185 Suydam St.
Police will accompany the faithful at each of the processions; the Glendale/104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol will also provide security details for the Ridgewood march. Drivers are advised to find alternate routes during each march.
