Believers walk the Stations of the Cross along Main Street

By Ian Swaby
| 1:30 p.m. March 29, 2024

Sarasota
Neighbors

Bonnie Daiello wanted to take the time in her life to “smell the roses,” after she was shaken by the experience of a recent cardiac arrest.

“It was very important for me to do it,” said Daiello, who was among the hundreds in attendance at the Stations of the Cross walk on the morning of Good Friday, March 29. “It meant a lot.”

A Good Friday tradition in countries around the world, the walk grew out of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem and involves a journey between 14 stations along a path that represent different stages in the story of Jesus’ passion and death.

Established in Sarasota by the Men’s Breakfast Prayer Group at Church of the Redeemer in 1996, the event is held jointly by the church and the Sarasota Ministerial Association, while also involving clergy from different area congregations.

Although it originally took place on the church grounds, the walk grew in attendance and came to encompass the current route from Regal Hollywood to Church of the Redeemer.

Patrick Redmond was another pilgrim who felt compelled to come out to downtown Sarasota that morning, saying he wanted to join the community in a public display of faith during the Easter season.

“I think it’s something that is sorely needed in the world today,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing to recognize Christ’s passion and suffering and death, and his rising from the dead."

The Rev. David M. Svihel prepares for the walk.

Dave and Nancy Morgan follow along with the event through their booklets.

Chaplain Tom Pfaff, City Commissioner Kyle Battie, Men of the Redeemer leader Craig Burness stand by as County Commissioner Mark Smith speaks at the first station.

Lucy Sanchez, 9, and her mother Dorota Sanchez, listen to a speaker.

Joshua Santos, 14, and his father Fernando Santos, came from Cathedral Church of Saint Luke in Orlando to attend the walk.

The Rev. David M. Svihel holds the cross as Ariel Blue of Evergreen Church and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe sings, on the steps of First Sarasota.

Eleanor Bauer, 4, watches a speaker at one of the stations.

Suzanne Stamp prays at one of the stations.

Michael Panebianco, Lola and Gina Hatenyi pray at one of the stations.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.