KAILUA-KONA — For the dozens who came to observe the Stations of the Cross at St. Michael the Archangel Church, it was an important reminder of living their faith.
The procession, which circled the Kailua-Kona church, drew a crowd of residents and visitors all joined together as a united community.
“Since I have been baptized before, I have been here every time,” said Elizabeth Tabboga. “We celebrate every time, Easter, especially the Holy Week.”
As attendees made their way around the church, they paused for readings and prayers that reflected on moments from Jesus’ condemnation through his placement in the tomb.
And for those who took part in the procession, pastor Konelio Faletoi said he hopes they go on to follow Jesus’ example.
“The whole thing is his love for us,” Faletoi said. “That’s the ultimate. There’s no greater love than for someone to lay down his life for us, and that’s what we celebrate.”
“And by taking this journey,” he added, “we are reminded of that great love that he offered himself for us. That’s our salvation.”
And while the procession marks a series of solemn moments, Faletoi noted Good Friday comes as part of the Holy Triduum, a single celebration that culminates with Easter.
“We look at it not just only one day,” he said. “And a lot of people put so much focus just on that, but we can’t do that, we have to look at those three days combined together; they make one holy celebration.”
Among the crowd were many who came with generations of their families, such as Allison Misquez, visiting from Illinois, who attended with her family.
Her son, Andy Misquez, noted the term “Catholic” means “universal,” and so to see the practices applied across the Pacific Ocean, he said, “is a beautiful thing.”
Faletoi said he loved seeing families coming out to the procession to continue sharing their faith with their children and grandchildren.
“I love it,” he said. “You can see that they’re passing from one generation to the next generation.”