TIME TO CONTEMPLATE

DANI MESSICK

THE GOSHEN NEWS

GOSHEN — Today is the last day to experience the Stations of the Cross walking path at Pathway’s Retreat in Goshen.

A Christian tradition, Stations of the Cross features 14 markers, originated in medieval Europe during a time when wars prevented Christians from making the pilgrimage to visit the Holy Land. They each consist of meditations and milestones in the death of Jesus, starting at his condemnation and continuing through his journey through the city to the hill of Calvary and eventually to the tomb. Eight stations are taken directly from Scripture but the rest are passed down in the Christian tradition.

At Pathways, the Stations of the Cross markers are handcrafted mosaics designed by local artist and retired teacher John Nafziger and pieced together by Walnut Hill Mennonite Church. The mosaics are placed through the 0.6 mile trail allowing guests to meditate on the life and death of Jesus through art and surrounded by nature.

“People can come and walk at their own pace,” said Janell Stoltzfus, co-director of land and hospitality.

The Stations of the Cross will come down Saturday evening and be replaced by another Pathway’s tradition: Stations of Resurrection. These seven additional stations will be up by Easter Sunday and will remain in the woods until April 30, following Jesus’ time after the Resurrection from the dawn of Easter Sunday through the Ascension. These artistic representations are watercolor paintings on ceramic tiles by another local artist Sylvie Gudin. They each contain a Scripture and a reflection and provide an opportunity for the community to return to Pathway’s, this time to celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death and God’s promise.

A spiritual retreat center for rest, ref lection and renewal, Pathways’ main focus is offering a place as Stoltzfus explained for people to come, slow down and spend time in self-ref lection.

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Janell Stoltzfus, co-director of land and hospitality, shows one of the Stations of the Cross at Pathway’s Retreat in Goshen.

Photos by Dani Messick | The Goshen News

Visitors to Pathway’s Retreat in Goshen read one of the meditations posted to a tree in the trail in the woods.

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The organization also offers morning programming such as retreats, series or educational activities including the hidden creature walk or its Rhythm of Prayer daily prayer Tuesday through Friday mornings.

“We try to appeal to a lot of people,” Stoltzfus said. “Obviously, we are rooted in Christian traditions but we are open to anybody who wants to come whether they’re religious or not.”

The retreat’s walking paths are open to the public from sun up to sun down at no cost, although donations will be accepted. The trails also include a gazebo and outdoor “rooms” for meditations.

Stoltzfus said it’s not unusual to have at least a few people on site throughout the day traversing the woods, but it’s never so full that visitors cannot enjoy the serenity of the space in peace.

“If you come here to walk the trails and you stumble upon somebody else, that’s going to be a little weird,” she said. “Usually you can come here and find some solitude.”

Easter week however and Holy Saturday are generally the retreat’s busy days for the woods, especially when the weather is nice.

The pathways are in total about 17 acres, but the main path is only 0.6 miles.

There are also gratitude rooms and a pavilion and a rental house for longer length retreats available for rent.

“We see ourselves as being here for anybody who needs us,” Stoltzfus said. “We realize we’re not going to appeal to everybody but we really want to be a welcoming space for those who want to find some solitude.”

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574538-2065.

A mosaic station

from Pathway’s Retreat’s Stations of the Cross is featured, along with a retreat cottage.

Dani Messick | The Goshen News