Ecumenical coalition invites public to join mile-long prayer walk for peace, unity, and justice through Reading
READING, MA — On Friday, April 3, 2026, a diverse coalition of Reading faith communities will gather for a “Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Walk & Vigil,” a mile-long collaborative witness through the heart of town down Woburn Street. Beginning at 12:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading (UUCR), participants will walk along Woburn Street, stopping at several local churches for scripture and prayer.
In an era of increasing division, this event highlights a rare and powerful unity among local clergy and laypeople. Leaders from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, Old South United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church (UCC), Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, and St. Agnes Catholic Church have joined forces to create a space for collective lament and a shared call for peace.
“We are inviting people of all faiths — or none — to join us in a physical manifestation of our commitment to this community,” says Rev. JongWook Hong of Old South UMC. “By walking together, we testify to an end to violence in all its forms and pray for a world rooted in mercy.”
The walk is designed as a series of “stations,” each centering on a theme of compassion and justice:
- 12:00 PM: Start at UUCR (239 Woburn Street)
- 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Stops at the other churches along Woburn Street – St. Agnes (#186), Good Shepherd (#95), and FCCR (#25), concluding at Old South (6 Salem Street).
“We are ‘praying with our feet’ because words alone aren’t enough to heal the divisions we see in the world today,” says Melissa Martin of UUCR. “When we walk together across different faith traditions, we are acknowledging that our dignity is tied to our neighbors’. We are moving beyond the church walls to actively tend to our community’s heart, testifying that peace and justice are things we must build together, step by step.”
Following the walk, many participants will carpool to the Burlington ICE facility gathering at 3:00 PM in a spirit of prayer and worship, in solidarity with those advocating for the dignity of immigrants — a further extension of the day’s theme of state-sanctioned violence and the call for compassion.
The public is encouraged to join the walk at any point along the route. Participants are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring umbrellas, as the event will proceed rain or shine.
About the Participating Churches: The Reading Clergy Association is an ecumenical group of faith leaders dedicated to fostering spiritual growth, social justice, and community well-being in Reading, MA, and the surrounding North of Boston area.
