While some CJ students were traveling or relaxing on their first day of spring break, Meredith Ryan ’28 was at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton for what has become one of her family’s Good Friday traditions. On Friday, April 3, Ryan joined a few of her friends, her mother, her mother’s colleagues from the Bruner Literacy Center, and more than 50 others for the Walk for Justice and Peace.
This interfaith event is an opportunity for people to come together to walk the Stations of the Cross while reflecting on the social justice issues that the world is facing today.
As with the traditional Stations of the Cross, the first station was, Jesus is Condemned to Death, during which, the crowd reflected on the death penalty as it stands today.
“I found the first station very powerful,” said Ryan. “It brought up the issue of the death penalty and related it to how Jesus Himself was condemned to death. This station was very important to me because the death penalty is often overlooked.”
From there, the group walked to various locations throughout downtown Dayton to reflect on Jesus’ suffering and learn about topics such as racism, gun violence, healthcare inequities, mental health/suicides, education and literacy, world peace and hunger and homelessness.
“During this walk, I always feel very reverent,” said Ryan. “I am able to reflect on the suffering Jesus endured on Good Friday, and which our neighbors here in Dayton and everywhere endure.”
As those gathered walked the 14 blocks, half the group carried light-blue wooden crosses with topics that are still burdening our world, such as ‘poverty,’ ‘pollution,’ and ‘injustice.’ Ryan and her friend took turns holding the cross with the country of ‘Sudan’ on it.
Ryan wasn’t the only one with ties to CJ, but one of a dozen others from the Marianist community. Two Marianist Sisters delivered the reflection at the thirteenth station, Jesus is taken down from the cross.
In a church parking lot by the Great Miami River, Sister Rosa Rucoba FMI, MSJC and Sister Leanne Jablonski FMI, MEEC, addressed environmental and climate justice. Rucoba spoke of the progress being made locally to protect the Miami Valley watershed. Jablonski explained why there is much work to be done to save our planet from the climate crisis.
According to Ryan, this annual tradition includes her making homemade soup with her mom for the free soup lunch at First Baptist Church following the Stations of the Cross event. This year, Ryan and her friends volunteered to serve soup to people.
“We know the pastor at the church,” said Ryan. “I offered to help serve the soup because it gives me the opportunity to meet and talk to people I might not normally.”
At the final station, Jesus is Placed in the Tomb, the speaker delivered a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,” as a call to action. Then the crowd sang, “Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God,” before dispersing.
“The Walk for Justice and Peace was a very meaningful experience. I encourage everyone to come out next year,” said Ryan.
