In the quiet hours before dawn on Good Friday, dozens of faithful gathered at Sagrado Corazón Catholic Church in Costilla, NM, setting out on a solemn pilgrimage that has become a cherished tradition in northern New Mexico.

The annual Good Friday Walk, observed by Catholics and Christians across the region, mirrors the Via Dolorosa—the path believed to be walked by Jesus Christ from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. For many, the pilgrimage is a personal expression of faith, sacrifice, and devotion.

The walk began at 3:30 a.m. from Sagrado Corazón, winding south through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. By mid-morning, pilgrims arrived at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church in Cerro, where many paused for rest, reflection, and prayer. Penitentes met peregrinos (pilgrims) with a statue of Jesus and Mary, symbolic of the meeting of Jesus with his mother as he walked the passion toward his death. The final stretch of the pilgrimage led walkers to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Questa, where they arrived around noon.

The journey, which spans 20 miles, is more than a physical test—it is a spiritual rite that connects generations of New Mexicans to a global Christian tradition. Along the way, walkers often carry crosses, pray the rosary, and walk in silence, meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.

Community members, volunteers, and local churches provide water, medical assistance, and encouragement along the route, underscoring the communal spirit of the day.

The pilgrimage, while deeply personal for many, is also a public expression of faith—a quiet yet powerful witness to the enduring significance of Good Friday.

“It’s a reminder of what this day truly means,” said Lynnae Rael, longtime peregrina and lead for this year’s pilgrimage. “In walking together, we remember His path—and in some small way, we walk it too.”