Faith Groups March in Valparaiso for Palm Sunday

Community members gather to encourage compassion and service to the less fortunate.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:49pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing a blurred crowd of people carrying colorful banners and palm fronds as they march down a city street, conveying a sense of community, faith, and social justice.A faith community in Valparaiso gathers to march in solidarity and encourage acts of compassion on Palm Sunday.Minneapolis Today

On Palm Sunday, faith groups in Valparaiso, Indiana marched through downtown to commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and call the community to action. The event, organized by the consortium We Make Indiana, featured reflections from local pastors and testimonies from community members experiencing hunger, illness, and immigration challenges. The groups encouraged attendees to put their faith into practice by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger.

Why it matters

This Palm Sunday march highlights the faith community's efforts to address pressing social issues in Valparaiso, reflecting a broader trend of religious groups taking on roles traditionally filled by government and nonprofit organizations. The event aims to inspire compassion and spur community members to volunteer and advocate for the less fortunate.

The details

The march began at Trinity Lutheran Church, where Rev. Tim Leitzke shared the story of Palm Sunday. The group then walked to the courthouse square, where pastors read scripture and community members gave testimonies about their struggles with hunger, illness, and immigration. Speakers emphasized that faith must translate into action, calling attendees to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger.

  • The Palm Sunday march took place on March 30, 2026.
  • The groups have planned a workshop on one-on-one relationship building for May 9, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church.

The players

Rev. Tim Leitzke

Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church who shared the Palm Sunday story with the gathered crowd.

Rev. Rich Schmidt

Pastor of Living Hope Community Church who spoke on the importance of feeding the hungry.

Carolina Sanchez

A Valparaiso resident who shared her struggles to feed her family after her daughter and grandchildren moved in with her.

Roxane Abbott

A Valparaiso resident who testified about losing her benefits when her Social Security disability increased, making it harder for her to afford healthcare.

Rev. Cathy Carpenter

Pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church who read from the Book of Matthew on welcoming the stranger.

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What they’re saying

“What good is it if people claim they have faith, but do nothing to show it? If those beliefs don't translate into any faithful acts from our neighbors, what good are they?”

— Rev. Rich Schmidt, Pastor of Living Hope Community Church

“It saddens me that buying food is more of a luxury now. We are asking for a community, a government, that makes it easier for families to survive.”

— Carolina Sanchez

“The increase that I thought was a godsend turned into a nightmare.”

— Roxane Abbott

“The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

— Rev. Cathy Carpenter, Pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

What’s next

The groups have called on state legislators to meet with them, and have also planned a workshop on one-on-one relationship building for May 9, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso.

The takeaway

This Palm Sunday march demonstrates the faith community's commitment to addressing pressing social issues in Valparaiso, reflecting a broader trend of religious groups taking on roles traditionally filled by government and nonprofit organizations. The event aims to inspire compassion and spur community members to volunteer and advocate for the less fortunate.