Almost 5000 people lined the streets of Punchbowl to watch the annual Stations of the Cross staged by St Charbel's Church, which re-enacts the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher referred to international and local turbulence in his Easter message, which ended on an optimistic note.

"However sorely tested we may sometimes be, Easter speaks of hope," he said. "Hope for a world of more than blind natural forces and blinding human wilfulness, a world of no more hurt from hate or indifference."

Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies called for spiritual renewal while paying tribute to those who risk their safety to help others.

"We have seen, in recent days, those who selflessly rescue people from cyclone storm and flood," he said. "They have our admiration, gratitude and thanks."

Data collated by McCrindle research shows 3.9 million Australians will attend church services over the Easter weekend despite the increase in the proportion of people saying they have no religion.

Census results from 2006 shows 25.8 per cent of Australians indicated they were Catholic, followed by Anglican (18.7 per cent) and no religion (18.7 per cent).

By 2011, those selecting no religion had risen to 22.3 per cent, overtaking Anglicans (17.1 per cent) but still behind Catholics (25.3 per cent).

Comprehensive data on religion from the 2016 census will be released on June 27.