On Good Friday morning, April 14, many hundreds of people joined Cardinal Cupich in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood for a Walk for Peace. Civic and faith leaders also joined the walk along with members of Chicago’s police and fire departments.

Participants prayed the Stations of the Cross along the route. Before each station, names of those killed by gun violence in the city since Jan. 1 were read, along with each victim’s age and gender. Two of the stops in the route were the sites of murders.

Cardinal Cupich announced the walk during a press conference the week before in which he outlined new anti-violence initiatives in the archdiocese. The walk began and ended at St. Benedict the African Church, 340 W. 66th St.

At the start of the stations, 10-year-old Montrell Davis from the Austin neighborhood, told the gathering that he wants to play basketball when he grows up but he can’t visit the park a block from his home without an adult because of the violence in his neighborhood.

"To the people that’s killing the children, I’m begging you to stop the violence," he said.

At the station where Jesus falls, Pamela Montgomery-Bosley, whose son Terrell was killed by gun violence, shared her family’s struggle dealing with his death. For a time her family lived in denial of his death, she said. Twice she tried to take her own life.

"Every day, me and so many parents carry the cross that we did not ask for. We carry the cross of broken hearts," she said.

Some Englewood residents watched the procession from their porches or windows. A group of kids yelled down from a second floor window along the route asking, "Who are you marching for?" A woman in the procession replied, "For you, honey!"

Katie Nash of Oak Park said she attended the walk to let members of Englewood "know that we care."

"Chicago is in trouble with all of the violence and unless we all come and stand for peace in the hood it’s not going to be effective," said Nash.

Gretchen Gerdes lives in suburban Crestwood but was born and grew up in Englewood and worked at St. Bernard School, which is now the Academy of St. Benedict the African.

"I’m still concerned about the area," Gerdes said, when asked why she attended the walk.

It breaks her heart when she hears of violence in the neighborhood, and she would like to see more educational opportunities for people who live in Englewood.

"I think education is the answer to curtailing the violence," Gerdes said.

Wardell Staples wants to see more jobs. Staples lives in nearby Roseland and previously lived in Englewood. He attended the walk with his colleagues from the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation, which manages affordable housing in the area.

He said it was "impressive" to see so many people of different races and religions turn out for the walk but more must be done.

"To be really honest, it’s jobs that are needed. It will help a whole lot," he said.

A former gang member, Staples said the random shootings of women and children didn’t happen in his day.

"This is madness," he said.

As a father of five, Staples walked in the procession for his children, especially his son Michael, who is 2 years old.

"I want him to be able to play in the yard and be safe," Staples said.

The gathering of people of various races, ages and faiths showed that people of Chicago care about each other, Cardinal Cupich said at the end of the walk.