07.04.2023
‘Beacon of sharing and solidarity’– Archbishops of Dublin Lead Good Friday Walk of Witness
The Church of Ireland and Catholic Archbishops of Dublin brought the powerful message of Good Friday to the streets of Dublin city Centre this evening. Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Dermot Farrell carried at Taize Cross across the city in what has become a firm ecumenical Good Friday tradition.
In a change from tradition this year, the Ecumenical Walk of Witness began in St Mary’s Pro–Cathedral and processed across the city past the GPO, over O’Connell Bridge and across College Green before travelling up Dame Street to Christ Church Cathedral.
Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne, met pilgrims on arrival and led prayers during the short service in which Archbishop Farrell read the Gospel.
In a short address, Archbishop Jackson focussed on St John 19.30: When Jesus had received the wine, he said, It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
“This happens after the very last attempt to address the parched reality of cracked lips and choking breathing along with the delirium and crumpling of a physical death that cannot now be undone by any restorative intervention. It really is all over. The stark and shivering reality stands against our sky this evening as together we have carried The Taize Cross from St Mary’s Pro–Cathedral to Christ Church Cathedral just as The Cross itself stood against the sky of Jerusalem on the first Good Friday,” he said.
“Today’s cross we carry as a beacon of ecumenical sharing and as a light of human solidarity in the city of Dublin today for tomorrow. Our torch of hope on this day of desecration, of disempowerment and of departure is that even in 2023 we continue to call this day Good. Across the whole island Good Friday in this year is a day of a particular political and social Agreement carrying all the burden of suffering and of grief of every Good Friday.”
