WAYLAND CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THEIR ICONIC WAY OF THE CROSS WALK

BY SUZIE WELLS

Each year since 1973, Christians from Wayland and surrounding areas celebrate Easter by symbolically retracing the steps Jesus took to his cruci xion on Calvary. Midday Good Friday each year, residents meet at the Wayland Town Hall to begin the 2-1/2 mile trek to and then up Selbig Hill, renamed Calvary for the occasion.

Along the way, walkers stop for prayers and hymns at 14 stations, where volunteers read from the liturgy. e pilgrimage ends at the base of a 25-foot-tall I-beam steel cross erected atop the hill in 1974 by John Landino. Typically, a priest will then give a Sermon on the Mount at the hilltop.

Landino, then a village trustee, got the idea for this “Way of the Cross” walk while hiking with his sons to the peak of the hill now called Calvary Hill on County Line Rd., overlooking the community. Landino explains that in about half a mile, the hill rises 500 feet, which makes for quite an incredible sledding hill. While walking it with his kids, though, Landino, a devout Catholic, said he re ected on Christ’s walk to his death.

Landino saw the hill as a challenge for the faithful, and so presented to the Council of Churches the idea of having participants walk up Selbig Hill for such a Cross Walk. One of the priests at the time suggested making it a community walk from the town hall, and helicopters ying overhead to record the event. Other years, when there’s major rain or other bad weather on Good Friday, only a dozen or so people make it out.

Regardless of the weather, and even at age 84 now, Landino himself makes the walk up the hill each and every year. ey host whomever from the community wants to join them each year (other than 2020 due to COVID). Landino says, “ ere’ve been some faithful who come every single year.” ere were a few ladies in their late 80s who did the entire walk and were such an inspiration to others, Landino says. One year, a young adult from Rochester came to this event saying it was on her list of things to do and she had such youthful energy, it a was a bit surprising that by the end of the trek, she was utterly exhausted. It’s de nitely an undertaking for those who choose to participate, he says. Hence the varying levels of participation.

Landino nds his Catholic faith inspires him, calling him to do this one thing while he’s alive. “Religion is a tough thing,” he says, “and it’s changed a lot. I feel I’ve been blessed. I like to give back for my Christianity before I die.” He feels this Cross Walk is his way to give back.

Many participants in the early days especially chose to carry their own crosses or cruci xes as evidence of humility, according to reporter Al Wilson. Landino describes those early crosses as e crosses and the number of participants may have shrunk over the years, but the dedication of faithful participants has not wavered. Landino says he has walked the hill each and every Good Friday for the past y years, and almost every year he has had a community of Christians with him.

In its heyday, this Cross Walk brought hundreds of Christians of all denominations to the unique occasion each year. According to 1975 D&C coverage, “ ose who are able, walk the full distance. Others drive to the 14 stations to meditate, pray, and sing. Others wait at the top of the hill and watch the pilgrims as they make their way up the steep incline to the summit.”

Landino says that is how the event works to this day. He says some years, there were so many participants, they had news reporter

Landino says the Cross Walk is a bit more casual today compared with that in the early years because it is such an undertaking for the faithful, but those who stick with it feel deeply connected to their faith as he does.

Headdsthatmaybethisyear,they’lldosomethingspecialbecause it’s the ieth anniversary of the walk, so if you’d like to stay in the know, check out the town of Wayland’s website or social media. But meanwhile, this Cross Walk is one of Wayland’s special stories.

TYPES

Tabletop firepits: Homeowners, condominium or apartment dwellers with limited backyard space may want to consider the convenience of tabletop firepits. Restaurants may use tabletop firepits in their outdoor seating areas because they provide warmth and ambiance without taking up much space. Tabletop firepits fueled by gas will not need to be connected to a gas source, which may appeal to consumers who want something that’s simple as well as small.

Once homeowners understand which type of shade they are dealing with, they can then visit plant nurseries and select their plants. Most greenery comes with care instructions that include recommendations regarding the amount of shade/sunlight the plant will need to do well. If further assistance is needed, a knowledgeable employee can make suggestions based on landscape needs.

HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Prepare Cooling Systems For Warm Weather

CLEAN FILTERS. Whether a home is kept cool by a whole-house central air conditioning system or window units, clean filters are necessary to keep the units working efficiently. Routinely replacing or cleaning filters is one of the most important maintenance tasks to improve airflow and increase efficiency. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy says replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower an air conditioner’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5to 15percent.

Freshen Up Your Home For The Spring Season

Clean existing light fixtures. Another way to brighten the mood in a home is to periodically clean light fixtures to make sure they are working effectively. Spend time dusting them and cleaning off any accumulated debris. If need be, switch out old lamp shades for newer ones that let more light shine through. If inadequate lighting is a problem no matter how many lamps you have, consult with an electrician about installing more overhead and accent lighting.

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green.

If you think that the only way to exercise and burn calories involves gym equipment, think again. Yard work can be just as challenging as a thorough aerobics workout at a nearby fitness club. To reap the greatest benefits, gardeners should use as little motorized machinery as possible. Manual tools will get you moving and can burn a substantial amount of calories. Try to vary positions and alternate which hands you use to reduce strain and get an even workout. Fitnessexpertssaythatgardening can improve strength, increase endurance and assist with flexibility. According to a report in the UK publication The Telegraph, clearing a pond or weeding can burn some 300 calories in an hour. Forty-five minutes worth of gardening can burn as many caloriesas30minutesofaerobics.

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STRANGE BUT TRUE

By Lucie Winborne

* Alcatraz was the only prison to offer its inmates hot showers, but that had nothing to do with personal comfort. Rather, the reasoning went that if the prisoners were used to the hot shower-water, they’d be unable to cope with the frigid temps of the San Francisco Bay and hence deterred from attempting to escape.