Photo by Clay Schuldt On Good Friday, Bishop Chad Zielinski leads a payer at the final Station of the Cross at the Way of the Cross shrine.

NEW ULM — Dozens gathered at the Way of the Cross shrine Friday for a special public prayer and meditation.

The Way of the Cross shrine is located below the New Ulm Diocese pastoral center near New Ulm Medical Center. The walking path features stations representing the 14 stations of the cross.

Bishop Chad Zielinski led the congregation through each station. At each of the location, Zielinski would pause to give prayer.

The Good Friday visit to the Way of the Cross is an annual tradition of the New Ulm Diocese. This is the first time Zielinski has led the walk at the Way of the Cross shrine since he was installed as bishop for the New Ulm Diocese in September of 2022. Last year the special service could not be held at the Way of the Cross due to ice covering the walking path. This year saw near perfect conditions for the service.

The service was briefly interrupted by an emergency medical helicopter taking off from the nearby New Ulm Medical Center. Zielinski paused the station of the cross prayer and asked those present to take a moment and pray for the person who needed the helicopter.

At the end of the walk, Zielinski said “On this day we recognized the death and suffering of Jesus, but as we pay respects we realize there are other people in the world suffering and we must reach out to them.”