Annual Lenten walk ‘stands as a testament of the power of our faith,’ pastor says

Courtesy photo/Santa Ana Mission

Photo 1 of 2

During the 21-mile walk from St. Henry Parish in Brigham City to Santa Ana Mission in Tremonton, participants took turns to carry the wooden cross, reenacting Christ’s journey to Golgotha for the salvation of humanity.

BRIGHAM CITY/TREMONTON — The annual Walk with Christ, which goes from St. Henry Catholic Church in  Brigham City to Santa Ana Mission in Tremonton, takes place every Lent, with participants taking turns carrying a heavy wooden cross along the 21-mile route. They pause along the way to pray the Stations of the Cross, “reflecting on the trials and tribulations of Christ’s final hours,” said Father Francisco Pires, pastor.

“For 36 years, since the establishment of the Santa Ana Mission, this symbolic journey has been undertaken,” Fr. Pires said.

“It’s not just a walk; it’s a pilgrimage of the soul,” he said, adding that each step the pilgrims take is “filled with meaning – faith, penance, sacrifice and gratitude. It is always a challenge to do this walk, but this year was especially challenging due to the heavy rain for almost half of the way.”

Among the participants were children, young people and adults of all ages; they came from various backgrounds and beliefs, he said.

The walk was begun in the early 1980s by Jose and Sylvia Martinez as an expression of gratitude and faith for the construction of Saint Ana Mission, which started in a basement of a building.

“My wife and I thought, ‘Oh, we now have a new mission in Tremonton.’ We were just so grateful to God for having our own building, so I went to our priest and asked him what we could do,” Jose Martinez recalled. “We agreed on doing a walk where we could relive what Jesus suffered on his way to the cross for our salvation.”

Although the walk takes place every year, it’s different each time, he said. For example, “One year we had a person dressed as Jesus, and he walked all the way barefoot.”

As always, this year’s experience was very meaningful for the Martinezes.

 “This year the faith and sacrifices of some of the participants shocked me. … There was a couple with three kids that made the walk and their faith, raining and in the cold – the love that they showed for our Lord was very moving. … For me it was very special to see that,” Jose said.

“What distinguishes this pilgrimage is the compassion shown amongst the walkers,” Fr. Pires said. “With strangers becoming companions, sharing stories, offering support and lending a helping hand to bear the weight of the cross, we walk together not as individuals but as a community. There are no complaints, only a shared sense of purpose and solidarity.”

“Everyone who participates does it for their own reasons and faith in Christ,” Jose said.

Over the years that the Martinezes have organized the walk, their faith has become stronger, he said. “I have more belief in Our Lord. … We are more in control of our lives when we have Christ in our lives, and it has make me stronger through all the tribulations, problems we have had along the way.”

Sylvia Martinez said that keeping the faith alive is important now more than ever because “we have to walk together through this life. … With this walk we are able to share our faith. Christ always walks side by side with us; without him we are nothing.”

Despite not being able to walk the route anymore, she participates along the route by assisting the participants with water bottles, helping them when they are tired and in other ways, she said.  

“Amidst the challenges of our daily lives, this tradition stands as a testament of the power of our faith,” Fr. Pires said.

As pastor of many of the participants, the benefits “extend beyond the spiritual and physical realm,” Fr. Pires said. “It permeates into every aspect of our lives. It helps to overcome obstacles, inspiring us to lead better, more fulfilling lives.”

The journey from one sacred site to another “is not just a physical hike, it’s a transformative experience. We not only change ourselves but touch the lives of those who witness our journey,” he said.

Arriving at Santa Ana, the participants had moments of prayer, shared their experience with others and enjoyed a hot meal.