CHARLOTTE — Catholics across the Diocese of Charlotte gathered in churches on Good Friday to commemorate Our Lord’s passion and death. Parishioners took part in confessions, Stations of the Cross, and Good Friday liturgies that included veneration of the cross and Passion plays.
During the March 29 liturgy – held at 3 p.m., the hour that tradition holds Jesus Christ died on the cross – many churches were filled to capacity as faithful joined to recall the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son for the salvation of souls. The liturgy included the reading of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John, taking those gathered on the tortuous journey Christ suffered from the Garden of Gethsemane through His crucifixion on Golgotha.
Lines of people took turns venerating the cross by bowing, genuflecting or kissing the feet of Jesus on the cross.
Good Friday is a day of fasting and prayer, and marks the second day of the Sacred Triduum. No Masses are said, and tabernacles remain empty – until the Easter Vigil Mass and the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord.
A large crowd filled the old chapel of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont for a moving experience of the Living Stations of the Cross. The young adults led everyone through the readings and prayers for the service. After each reading, they re-enacted each station.
In Asheboro, a crowds gathered to see the performance of the Passion of the Christ performed by parishioners at St. Joseph Church.
— Spencer K.M. Brown. Photos by César Hurtado, Troy Hull and provided.
Cross veneration at St. Michael in Gastonia.
Cross veneration at St. Michael in Gastonia.
Cross veneration at St. Michael in Gastonia.
Cross veneration at St. Michael in Gastonia.
St. Mark Church in Huntersville on Good Friday.
St. Mark Church in Huntersville on Good Friday.
St. Mark Church in Huntersville on Good Friday.
St. Mark Church in Huntersville on Good Friday.
St. Mark Church in Huntersville on Good Friday.
Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville.
Cross veneration at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.
Cross veneration at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Living Stations of the Cross at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Fathers and sons “took up the cross” at St. Joseph College Seminary on Good Friday.
Fathers and sons “took up the cross” at St. Joseph College Seminary on Good Friday.
St. Therese Church in Mooresville.
St. Therese Church in Mooresville.
Good Friday at St. Leo Church in Winston-Salem.
Our Lady of the Angels presents a Passion of the Christ.
Our Lady of the Angels presents a Passion of the Christ.
St. James the Greater in Concord present a Passion of the Christ.
St. James the Greater in Concord present a Passion of the Christ.
