A four-decade Norridge annual church tradition ended in faith on Good Friday as Catholic parishioners of Divine Savior completed their last Way of the Cross Walk on April 15.
“It feels sad because it’s a tradition that’s been going on and we have to, like, lay it aside and let it be,” said Santo Faso of Norridge, walk event organizer and a Divine Savior parishioner since 1987.
Faso estimated the Way of the Cross Walk began at the Norridge church approximately 40 years ago.
“We’ve been doing it ever since, every year,” Faso said. “It’s important because we want to get people to follow Jesus so maybe this is one way of them finding out about Jesus and trying to follow in His footsteps.”
The Renew My Church (RMC) Commission by the Archdiocese of Chicago announced in January that Divine Savior Church will close permanently on Labor Day weekend.
Divine Savior will combine as one parish with nearby St. Eugene Church and Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
Of the last Way of the Cross, Frank Lombardo of Norridge, an almost 30 year Divine Savior parishioner, said, “It’s kind of an emotional thing because I just want to do this for the last time.”
Frank Bucaro of Norridge estimates he has been a Divine Savior parishioner for 52 years.
“I feel bad they’re closing the church and all the things that’ll be the last time, we’re doing this, the last time we’re doing that,” Bucaro said, “so all these things that we’re doing are disappearing now and the church is going to close.”
Brigid Schaefer, a 40-year plus resident of Norridge and a 38-year Divine Savior parishioner, reflected, “I feel bad about Divine Savior not being here…but sometimes, we have to just move on.
Gerri Fornek of Norridge, a Divine Savior parishioner for almost 40 years, said “I’ve been doing this as often as I can,” Fornek said. “It’s actually very meaningful.”
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But, Fornek said, “I’ll find other ways to enrich my faith.”
The 1:45 p.m. afternoon walk began at the Divine Savior Church building, 7740 W. Montrose Ave., and continued into the Norridge immediate neighborhood before a 3 p.m. church liturgy.
Escorted by Norridge police, the procession of approximately 50 people moved along streets south of Montrose Avenue during periods of brief snow flurries and sunshine.
The Way of the Cross, also called the Stations of the Cross, is a Catholic practice for Good Friday documenting the stages in the Passion of Christ.
Small groups took turns carrying the large cross and stopped at designated stations along the route to pray.
Joanne Bomben of Norridge helped to carry the cross and later said her husband Frank Bomben constructed the cross in 1980 for Divine Savior’s walk.
Joanne Bomben said it was, “touching,” to carry the wood cross built by her husband for the procession’s final run.
Joanne Bomben said she felt, “sad, very sentimental.
“But,” Bomben added, “God is all over, they say, right?”
