Bishops carry the Cross at Loyola Grounds in Ranchi on Good Friday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Christians in Ranchi observed Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary, by holding special prayers and taking out Way of the Cross processions.

Thousands of men, women and children assembled at Loyola Grounds, adjacent to St Mary’s Cathedral, to attend a four-hour special Good Friday mass led by Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo and his bishops around 4 in the evening.

The ground was packed to its capacity and devotees carried their own seating arrangements — bedsheets, towels etc. — and even drinking water. Those suffering from arthritis brought their chairs so that they can sit through the prayers.

Usually, masses are held at the 102-year-old St Mary’s Cathedral. However, considering the huge footfall, arrangements were made at Loyola Grounds.

The special mass culminated in the Way of the Cross procession as Cardinal Toppo and other bishops carried the Cross in a reenactment of carrying of the Cross by Jesus.

“Tonight we ask just one question: Will we resolve to follow the footsteps of our Saviour, rejecting the lure of sin and all its easy promises, and embracing instead the new life of Christ which began with our baptism? Let tonight be, for all of us here, a moment of truth when we open ourselves fully to the loving kindness of God in order that he may make of us a new creation for the salvation of our world,” Cardinal Toppo read aloud.

Similar masses were organised across the state capital.

At St Paul’s Cathedral of the Church of North India, Raymond Paul explained to the disciples the meaning of Good Friday and Easter Sunday and encouraged them to lead a pious life.

At Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church, set up in 1868 by Auguste Stockman — the first German missionary to land in Chotanagpur — priests P.C. Lakra and J. Lakra led the prayers while bishop Nirdosh Lakra conducted the proceedings at North-West GEL Church.