Praying of the Steps. Photo: facebook.com/HCIchurch

On Good Friday (April 7), thousands of people of all faiths will ascend the steps of Holy Cross-Immaculata (HCI) in Mt. Adams for the annual Praying of the Steps event. 

The practice of praying the steps is a Cincinnati tradition that goes back to the 1850s, “when Archbishop Purcell asked people to climb the hillside, praying that enough money would be raised to build Immaculata Church,” says a release from the church.

Every year since that first Praying of the Steps, Cincinnatians and people from across the country, and even those from different countries, have made a pilgrimage to the Mt. Adams holy site on Good Friday.

“Each year our parish looks forward to opening our doors to the thousands of pilgrims who visit,” parish historian Jim Steiner said in the release. “Some people think we are a church that is only open on Good Friday. In fact, we are a vibrant parish with over 250 Ohio and Kentucky families who are active in our many spiritual and social activities throughout the year.”

HCI will be open for private prayer Thursday until 6 p.m. Then, after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m., the church will remain open through the night and for the full 24 hours of Good Friday.

At midnight on Good Friday, HCI’s Fr. Adam Puntel will bless the St. Gregory Street steps. In the church, votive candles will be available to be lit for prayer intentions, and visitors can also write prayer requests in the intention book. Visitors can also receive the sacrament of Reconciliation when priests are available.

HCI is also holding two Good Friday services: one at 2 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.

At the Praying of the Steps, HCI parishioners will serve a light breakfast from 6 a.m. to noon, or until supplies run out. The church also says they are bringing back their fish fry this year, and that will be available from 3-7 p.m.

Holy Cross-Immaculata is located at 30 Guido St., Mt. Adams. For more information, visit hciparish.org.

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This article appears in Apr 5-18, 2023.