CAMDEN, N.J. — Friars and parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Church here participated in the Fourth Annual Camden Prayer Walk last month, a non-denominational event that sent Christians into at-risk neighborhoods to cover the entire city with prayer.
With 60 people participating in the June 21 walk, St. Anthony had the second best participation of all the area churches, according to William Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor.
“This was the third time the parish participated,” he said. Parish leaders Vicky Walters, Eric Matos, Angel Molina and Antonio Jimenez organized the event. “Two years ago we had about 15, and last year we had 10,” said Jud. So this year’s 60 participants were significant.
The day started with 8:30 a.m. Mass with John Coughlin, OFM, presiding. After Mass, the 60 parishioners split into five groups to go to neighborhoods where prayer was needed most, including high-crime areas.
“After an hour of walking and praying between 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., we returned to St. Anthony’s, where John Quinn, OFM, joined us and we carpooled to the largest Baptist church in the city, Antioch Baptist. Here, we met with hundreds of members of other congregations from the city and suburbs for praise and worship until noon.”
Next to Antioch Baptist, St. Anthony’s had the most participants, according to Jud.
Shown in photo above is Group #1 on its way to 36th Street and Hayes Street in Camden, where a young girl was abducted several years ago. Additional photos are available on tthe parish’s Web site.