Parade coming again

Last year, nearly 50 churches and ministries participated in the first annual Capital Parade of Praise in Albany. An encore is set for May 22.

Referring to last year's parade, Rev. Martin Fisher, pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Round Lake, reflected that "the joy, laughter, praise and prayer which took place as we walked was truly a celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"People from different denominations as well as cities and towns made this a time of unity and peace. I enjoyed the different styles of faith -- with the common ground [being] our love for the Lord."

Dozens involved

The Rev. Steve Lalor, director of the Capital Region Prayer and Healing Center, said that nearly 50 churches and ministries will again participate.

Albany, as the capital of New York State, is a strategic city for this type of ecumenical event, he added.

"Albany is a spiritually active city," he noted; "we want our city, our community, our state to be blessed."

Inspired

Father Fisher felt the Holy Spirit inspired last year's event as a "special time of renewal and revival" for participants and the poorer neighborhoods they walked through.

Pastor Lalor noted that those neighborhoods, in the Arbor Hill section of Albany, need to see that people can be inspired by God to change their lives for the better.

The Parade of Praise has taken place in other U.S. cities that have been ravaged by deteriorating neighborhoods, drugs, violence and joblessness.

Growing event

In 1998, when parades of praise began throughout the U.S., only eight cities participated.

"Last year, that number was up to 175," Pastor Lalor said. "These parades bring people together and unite their hearts. We are very excited about this parade. We are ready to magnify and praise the Lord.

"We are all part of the one body of Christ, no matter what our faith designation. The parade gives us an opportunity to proclaim that unity."

(The parade will step off at noon at the bottom of Clinton Avenue in Albany and proceed to Bleecker Stadium by 2 p.m., where a Festival of Praise will take place until 5. Call 432-7100 to register your group.)

(5/13/04) [[In-content Ad]]