Photo by Ross Gallabrese The Rev. Bradley Greer, delegate of the apostolic administrator and chancellor of the Diocese of Steubenville, Wednesday blessed the Seven Sorrows of Mary Walking Path at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

STEUBENVILLE — People who enjoy walking have for years looked to cemeteries as peaceful settings where they can relax and enjoy being outdoors.

Now, a devotional path that has been established at Mount Calvary Cemetery will offer area residents the chance to walk, pray and meditate, officials with the cemetery and the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville say.

“This walking path is a beautiful addition to Mount Calvary and to our wider community,” explained Lou DiGregory, superintendent of the cemetery.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary Walking Path has been designed to provide a sacred space to walk, pray and meditate on the Virgin Mary, officials with the diocese said.

According to DiGregory, the path begins near the Our Lady of Sorrows section of the cemetery, which was founded in 1883 to provide a final resting place for Catholics.

The seven markers along the path represent the Prophecy of St. Simeon, the Flight into Egypt, the Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary, the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, the Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross and the Burial of Jesus.

“It was kind of a collaborative effort,” DiGregory explained Wednesday afternoon, shortly before the path was formally blessed on the Feast of the Annunciation by the Rev. Bradley W. Greer, delegate of the apostolic administrator and chancellor of the Diocese of Steubenville.

The Seven Sorrows has deep roots in the life of the church dating back to the Middle Ages, the diocese said.

“We had talked about very possibly doing stations of the cross,” DiGregory added. “Then, we decided that since so many cemeteries do that, we should do something a little bit different.”

DiGregory said he and others involved in administration at the cemetery had seen people walking or driving through the cemetery and stopping to pray along the way. He added that the terrain of the cemetery offered special challenges while the path was being designed.

“We picked that area so that it’s not really hilly, because there are some places where it is super hilly,” he said. “People can just come through there, stop and pray and continue their walk.”

Included along the path, the diocese added, are two locations where diocesan priests and religious have been laid to rest.

“The path provides a meaningful opportunity for people to slow down, reflect and grow closer to the Blessed Mother through prayer,” DiGregory added. “We hope it becomes a place of comfort, healing and spiritual renewal for all who visit. It reflects Mount Calvary’s continued commitment to honoring the dignity of life, fostering devotion and serving as a place of peace and prayer for the faithful.”