Diocesan News

Bishop DiMarzio, Italian Apostolate’s Way of the Cross in Brooklyn

April 4, 2026
Statues of Christ’s corpse and Our Lady of Sorrows are seen in front of the Basilica of Regina Pacis, Dyker Heights, at the conclusion of the Good Friday Way of the Cross candlelight procession in Dyker Heights April 3. Sponsored by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Italian Apostolate, the procession began at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and ended a mile later at the Basilica of Regina Pacis. More than 1,200 people participated in the event, which has been a Holy Week tradition for 40 years. Participating parishes also included St. Bernadette, Dyker Heights; St. Athanasius-St. Dominic, Bensonhurst; St. Finbar, Bensonhurst; St. Frances Cabrini, Bensonhurst; St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, Bensonhurst; and Most Precious Blood-Ss. Simon and Jude, Bath Beach. (Photos: Gregory A. Shemitz)

The Italian Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated along with Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio a candlelight Way of the Cross on Good Friday. 

The April 3 walk was sponsored by the parishes in Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights. 

The celebration began at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and ended at The Basilica of Regina Pacis. 

Along the route participants recite the Stations of the Cross in Italian. The marchers also had the traditional meeting of the statues of reposed Jesus with his Mother Mary. 

A statue of Our Lady of Sorrows is carried during the Good Friday Way of the Cross candlelight procession in Dyker Heights April 3.

 

Pilgrims participate in the Good Friday Way of the Cross candlelight procession.

 

Pilgrims carry a statue of Christ’s corpse.

 

Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio leads the Good Friday Way of the Cross candlelight procession in Dyker Heights.

 

A pilgrim carries an image of the Blessed Mother while participating.

 

Deacon Anthony Mammoliti, assistant director the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Italian Apostolate, prays at one of the 14 stations.

 

Altar servers carry a rosary made of flowers.

 

Father Sebastian Tarcisio Andro, pastor of the Basilica of Regina Pacis, Dyker Heights, prays at one of the 14 stations.

 

Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio blesses pilgrims with a relic of the True Cross at the conclusion of the Good Friday Way of the Cross candlelight procession.