Roughly 70 people joined Bishop Chad Zielinski at The Way of the Cross on Good Friday to pray the 14 stations of the cross.

NEW ULM — Catholic Diocese of New Ulm Bishop Chad Zielinski led the faithful through the 14 stations of the cross at the Way of the Cross Shrine on Good Friday.

The Way of the Cross shrine is located below the New Ulm Diocese pastoral center near New Ulm Medical Center. The walking path features different statues depicting the different stages of Christ on the cross. At each of the location, Zielinski would pause to give prayer.

Before starting the devotions, Zielinski asked the congregation members to carry in their hearts a person who was not able to attend.

“Carry them in your heart and ask God to take the grace you are receiving and bestowed upon him, as a source of healing and a source of hope,” Zielinski said.

The Good Friday visit to the Way of the Cross is an annual tradition of the New Ulm Diocese. Bishop Zielinski said attendance at this year’s service was higher than last year.

He thanked the committees who help maintain the Way of the Cross. It was completed in 1904 and renovated in 2004. The statues at the different stations were imported from Bavaria.

Zielinski said the Way of the Cross receives many visitors throughout the year.

“You would not believe how many people from out of town come here just to stop and walk the stations of the cross,” he said. “It really provides a powerful opportunity for many people traveling through our area.”

A small chapel dedicated to the Mother of Sorrows rests at the end of the Way of the Cross. Gary Neubauer with the Knights of Columbus said inside the chapel there is a basked of wooden crosses that have been blessed. These crosses were made by the Knight of Columbus and are free. He estimated they went through 1,500 crosses a year.

[gallery ids=”947816,947811,947812,947813,947814,947815″