Easter in Rome: Through the lens of a local native
By SARAH McGONIGLE For the Herald04/13/2026
A young woman from the Diocese of Erie found herself at the heart of one of the Church’s most powerful Holy Week moments—capturing Easter in Rome through her lens.
In a brief interview, Sarah McGonigle, 27, a Hermitage native, reflected on her experience photographing the Via Crucis at the Colosseum, led this year by Pope Leo XIV.
“It was surreal,” McGonigle shared. “To stand inside the Colosseum, where early Christians gave witness to their faith, and document this moment for the Church—it was something I’ll never forget.”
Her path to Rome began unexpectedly through connections she made while studying in Scotland. With support from the Archdiocese of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, she secured Vatican press credentials just one day before the Good Friday ceremony.
“It all came together so quickly,” she said. “I knew I had to say yes.”
McGonigle sees her work as more than photography. “This is how I serve,” she explained. “Using my gifts to share moments of faith with others.”
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