Traditional Good Friday services are being disrupted by this week's violence in Cincinnati.

        The 8,000 to 10,000 Catholics who pray the rosary on the 85 steps at Holy Cross-Immaculata in Mount Adams — a 142-year tradition — had to wait until 6:30 a.m. today to ascend to the stone church that overlooks the Ohio River. Blessing of the steps normally begins just after midnight on Good Friday.

        The Way of the Cross, a Good Friday tradition in Cincinnati for 17 years, will have a new location today.

        The march, which recalls Jesus' walk to his crucifixionand affirms the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, normally makes several stops in down town and Over-the-Rhine.

        Today, because of rioting this week and fear of more violence, the Way of the Cross will be noon to 1 p.m. at Fountain Square.

        It will follow an 11:30 a.m. prayer service led by religious leaders including Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk; the Rev. Taylor Thompson, pastor of Quinn Chapel AME in Forest Park; and Imam Ilyas Nashid of the Cincinnati Islamic Center in Kennedy Heights.

        At the service, the Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson Jr., bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, planned to ask for a regionwide two minutes of silence at 11:50 a.m. His hope: People will use the time to reflect and ask for God's help.

        “This is a wake-up call to all of us to address the things we have not done,” said Bishop Thompson. “But maybe we had to go through this in order to come out on the other side a city that is far better, that has a new beginning, that steps in a new direction. A city that gathers up all its people and makes sure no one is ignored.”

        If the 8 p.m. curfew continues tonight, church and synagogue services this evening will either have to be moved earlier or canceled. Churches across Cincinnati shortened — or canceled — services on Thursday commemorating the Last Supper. Some church members were upset that the unrest has disrupted worship and tradition during one of Christianity's most holy times.

        “I'm so sad,” said Jeannine Lancaster, a member of Clifton United Methodist Church. ""As usual a few mad, bad, misguided people on both sides are causing problem for the many. To have to cancel something as important as the Maundy Thursday service ... We'd rather be here praying.”

        But ministers and priests called on their flocks to remember Jesus' message of peace and love. The city has a chance to mirror the Easter message, said Bishop Thompson.

        “We've got to die to some old ways,” he says. “Some things among us must die so that the wonderful new city we all long for can be given birth.”

        George Findley, director of the archdiocese's African-American Ministries, said it is no coincidence the shooting and riots are happening this week. “The devil is rearing his ugly head,” he said. “I know he's got a big grin on his face.”

        Mayor Charlie Luken acknowledged during his news conference Thursday that the curfew would disrupt faith gatherings.

        “We ask those citizens whose services may be interrupted to stay in their homes and pray for their city,” he said.

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