FOX VALLEY—Procession like the Stations of the Cross, especially on Good Friday, are a well kept tradition in Latin American countries.

With an ever-growing number of Hispanic-Americans populating the Rockford Diocese, it’s no surprise that the custom is also growing here.

Their fervor and devotion was shown in the streets of the city of Aurora on Good Friday, with a huge procession from Sacred Heart Parish to St. Nicholas Parish.

Bishop David Malloy, presided over the stations, accompanied by Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, diocesan Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, and the priests of the eight Catholic parishes located in Illinois’ second city.

The Aurora stations began at 10 a.m., and the crowd increased each minute with the passing of the procession on each block. In addition to the men who portrayed Jesus and the Roman guards in the procession, people in costume presented living stations along the way.

Hundreds of men, women, and children took part in the hour-and-a-half walk, demonstrating faith and prayer.

“We came as a family, yes a family of faith, but also with our families,” Bishop Malloy said.

“It is so important to pray together as a family, that parents bring their children to the cross of Christ, to the Church, and to the Mass, because that is something that comes from our faith, here under the cross,” he said.

“This is something beautiful, it reminds us of the passion and death of Our Lord and it is something you carry in your soul and in your heart,” said Guadalupe Fascio. “I have been participating in the procession for several years. In the last two years I have been (brought) closer to God.”

“It is a way to remind us that Jesus was with us. It is a way of love and respect for Our Lord Jesus Christ” Luis Montes said of the processions.

At the end of the stations, Msgr. Vallejo, invited people to continue participating in the celebration of Good Friday, by attending liturgy. He urged them to “continue praying for our bishop to keep him holy and close to us.”

Sister Cecilia Ayala, coordinator of Hispanic Ministry in the Aurora Deanery, has been part of the organization of the event for four years.

“The Stations of the Cross have grown in number of participants and have seen greater the fervor, silence and prayer along the path,” she said. “Every year we have been trying to improve the organization of the event.”

The people of Jesus also showed their fervor for the faith in other parishes of the diocese.

In Elgin, people from St. Joseph Parish started the stations with a gigantic cross carried by a variety of people. (See photos on page 6.) The different groups helped demonstrate that we all are children of God. First men hoisted the cross, then women, continuing with boys, girls and teenagers.

Each group had the opportunity to feel, at least in a very small amount, the passion of Jesus Christ on His way to Mount Calvary.

That’s how Junior Escalante, 20, described it. “It’s like suffering what Jesus suffered and I feel good because I feel (it) a little, (but) not yet one percent of what He suffered.”

In this event, the faith is lived as people evoke the passion of Jesus Christ, and share the feeling with prayers and songs.

By the end of the walk, every Catholic wants to sing the phrase from a song used in the Aurora stations, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.”