Archbishop Flynn students observe Good Friday with solemn procession

19 April 2025, 09:24

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

PADER, 18 April 2025 — Christians around the world observed Good Friday, and in Pader district, students of Archbishop Flynn Secondary School joined the global Christian community in commemorating the day with a solemn Way of the Cross procession.

Led by their school chaplain, Rev. Father Ocan Kennedy, the students took part in a symbolic re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s final journey to Calvary. The procession began at the Pader–Pajule Road junction, approximately one kilometre from the school.

The faithful made several reflective stops along the route, pausing first at the Rapa FM main gate, then at Olworguu Primary School, before concluding at the school grounds. In a moving display of devotion, students took turns carrying a wooden cross, emulating the suffering of Christ as described in the Scriptures.

Speaking during the procession, Okwera Emmanuel, one of the participating students, said the Way of the Cross was not only an act of reverence but also a personal spiritual journey.

“We began this journey with our Father at school last week on the 13th, and today we walked this path to reflect on the suffering of Jesus and deepen our connection to the Christian faith,” Okwera said.

Rev. Father Ocan Kennedy urged the students to embrace the lessons of humility, sacrifice, and love embodied in Christ’s passion, reminding them that Good Friday is a time to reflect on the gift of salvation and the values of compassion and forgiveness.

The day’s observance at Archbishop Flynn Secondary School concluded with the Adoration of the Cross ceremony in the evening, where students and staff gathered for quiet reflection, prayer, and veneration of the crucifix, an ancient tradition marking the solemnity of Christ’s crucifixion.

The Way of the Cross is a deeply rooted Christian tradition, retracing the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life, a journey believed to stretch from Jerusalem to Calvary, where Jesus was crucified.

For the students of Archbishop Flynn Secondary School, the observance was both a spiritual milestone and a living expression of their faith beyond the classroom.