Deeper meaning for Aquinas students

Many Tauranga teenagers will likely take the chance to maul chocolate eggs and hot cross buns this Easter, but some have dug deeper to celebrate their reason for the season.

Aquinas College students gathered at Red Square on Thursday to begin a Catholic pilgrimage through town - the Cross Walk.

Students carried large crosses to commemorate the life of Jesus, who Catholics and other Christian churches believe willingly died on a wooden cross for their sins.

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Luke Sawyers and Marion D'Cruz of Aquinas College. Photo: Joel Ford

Mr Sawyers took part in the Cross Walk last year and said he was "proud" that he had.

The walk was an annual tradition for the college since it opened nine years ago.

About 25 students walked carrying three crosses down Devonport Rd, through Memorial Park and up to St Mary's Catholic School in 13th Ave.

Yesterday's event was the first for Year 13 student Marion D'Cruz, who said Easter was in a way more special to her than Christmas.

While Christmas commemorated Jesus' birth, Easter celebrated what he did for people. The walk was a way to "thank him for what he did for us".

The Easter walk was also a personal journey for Miss D'Cruz.

"We do a lot of prayer during this time. It's time to pray and reflect on your own life."

Vince Shaw, Aquinas' director of special character (the section of the school that deals with fundraisers and community events) said the students got a lot of enjoyment out of expressing their faith.

"The plan is to show to the community Easter is a lot more than chocolate bunnies," Mr Shaw said.

The group stopped every five minutes on their pilgrimage for prayer, as Jesus did on his own Road to Calvary, Mr Shaw said.