UPDATED: Parishioners enact Living Stations with ‘sense of evangelization’
March 30, 2024 at 7:15 p.m.
As the soldiers struck Jesus and he stumbled under the weight of the cross, a hush fell over the onlookers outside Holy Trinity Church.
People from New Jersey’s Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities had gathered outside the church, part of Christ the King Parish in Long Branch, to witness the Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 29. The sidewalks were filled with families drawn from their homes to witness the solemn enactment; some even peered out of windows, watching as the Passion of Christ unfolded in detail.
PHOTO GALLERY: Living Stations in Long Branch
Inside the parish hall, others awaited the final scene of the reenactment. The stage was adorned with three crosses: one for Jesus, two for the thieves crucified with him.
As soldiers surrounded Jesus for his crucifixion, Father Javier Diaz, pastor of Christ the King Parish, and Father Edmilson Dias Da Silva, parochial vicar, continued their reflections on Jesus’ boundless love for humanity, and a parishioner sang a hymn in Portuguese.
A long-standing ministry
For at least 10 years, the Living Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis, have been re-enacted in Spanish and Portuguese by Christ the King Parish.
Father Diaz said that, every year, different actors portray different parts of the re-enactment.
“From the costumes to the props, everything is gifted to the parish from the ministry and community, and they do it with a sense of evangelization, because it is not just doing theater, but helping people to meditate on the Passion of Christ,” the pastor told The Monitor.
He said that as he prepared for the Living Stations, he remembered “something very beautiful.”
“St. John Paul II said that if ‘Jesus had not died on the cross, we would still be looking for a way to prove that God loves us.’ The cross has been the definitive test. … What happened is that Jesus died for me on the cross, which was out of love for me; that touched my heart, and it makes me feel more called to be with him.”
Living the role of Jesus
Last year, Mateo Jhow of Christ the King portrayed a soldier, but this year he portrayed Jesus. He said the actors “always ask the Holy Spirit to help us portray these roles so others can experience it well.”
“For me, I lived this role today and I know that tomorrow, I will wake up different, thanks to God. And then, we have to do all we can, because it is a life-changing experience not only for others, but for me. I have a thirst for Christ — I have a flame for Christ.”
Jhow’s friend and fellow parishioner, Emilio Lucero Jr., portrayed Pontius Pilate this year. Lucero said to see his friend “covered in fake blood and beaten up, and then ... to talk to him and condemn him is hard, not only because he is my friend, but because we are referring to Jesus, and he suffered.”
Lucero said he knows Jhow’s heart, “and I know he loves Christ. I cried during the procession, because I know he truly gave himself to portray the role of Jesus today. And everyone felt it.”
Many of the onlookers, like parishioner Nancy Lopez, said they had been coming to the Living Stations for years.
“I feel like if I don't do it, I haven't — I haven't lived the Holy Week,” Lopez said. “You live through Jesus when you participate in the Stations of the Cross.”
Others, like a Brazilian-born man who identified himself only as parishioner Alexsandro, said it was his first time participating in Long Branch, but he had attended Living Stations as a child in Brazil.
“I always thank God for the opportunity to be in a wonderful country like this where I can continue the tradition, and I wanted my daughter to experience it, too,” he told The Monitor.
‘This is not a game’
Parishioner Mary Teresa Magdalena has been participating for years.
“I’m from Mexico City, but we used to attend a church and Stations of the Cross every Good Friday in Iztapalapa, Mexico, so this tradition is important,” she said.
“I want people to understand the respect that is given to this,” she added. “This is not a game. It is the absolute respect for God, which is exactly the reason why we have to devote this day to him.”
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As the soldiers struck Jesus and he stumbled under the weight of the cross, a hush fell over the onlookers outside Holy Trinity Church.
People from New Jersey’s Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities had gathered outside the church, part of Christ the King Parish in Long Branch, to witness the Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 29. The sidewalks were filled with families drawn from their homes to witness the solemn enactment; some even peered out of windows, watching as the Passion of Christ unfolded in detail.
PHOTO GALLERY: Living Stations in Long Branch
Inside the parish hall, others awaited the final scene of the reenactment. The stage was adorned with three crosses: one for Jesus, two for the thieves crucified with him.
As soldiers surrounded Jesus for his crucifixion, Father Javier Diaz, pastor of Christ the King Parish, and Father Edmilson Dias Da Silva, parochial vicar, continued their reflections on Jesus’ boundless love for humanity, and a parishioner sang a hymn in Portuguese.
A long-standing ministry
For at least 10 years, the Living Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis, have been re-enacted in Spanish and Portuguese by Christ the King Parish.
Father Diaz said that, every year, different actors portray different parts of the re-enactment.
“From the costumes to the props, everything is gifted to the parish from the ministry and community, and they do it with a sense of evangelization, because it is not just doing theater, but helping people to meditate on the Passion of Christ,” the pastor told The Monitor.
He said that as he prepared for the Living Stations, he remembered “something very beautiful.”
“St. John Paul II said that if ‘Jesus had not died on the cross, we would still be looking for a way to prove that God loves us.’ The cross has been the definitive test. … What happened is that Jesus died for me on the cross, which was out of love for me; that touched my heart, and it makes me feel more called to be with him.”
Living the role of Jesus
Last year, Mateo Jhow of Christ the King portrayed a soldier, but this year he portrayed Jesus. He said the actors “always ask the Holy Spirit to help us portray these roles so others can experience it well.”
“For me, I lived this role today and I know that tomorrow, I will wake up different, thanks to God. And then, we have to do all we can, because it is a life-changing experience not only for others, but for me. I have a thirst for Christ — I have a flame for Christ.”
Jhow’s friend and fellow parishioner, Emilio Lucero Jr., portrayed Pontius Pilate this year. Lucero said to see his friend “covered in fake blood and beaten up, and then ... to talk to him and condemn him is hard, not only because he is my friend, but because we are referring to Jesus, and he suffered.”
Lucero said he knows Jhow’s heart, “and I know he loves Christ. I cried during the procession, because I know he truly gave himself to portray the role of Jesus today. And everyone felt it.”
Many of the onlookers, like parishioner Nancy Lopez, said they had been coming to the Living Stations for years.
“I feel like if I don't do it, I haven't — I haven't lived the Holy Week,” Lopez said. “You live through Jesus when you participate in the Stations of the Cross.”
Others, like a Brazilian-born man who identified himself only as parishioner Alexsandro, said it was his first time participating in Long Branch, but he had attended Living Stations as a child in Brazil.
“I always thank God for the opportunity to be in a wonderful country like this where I can continue the tradition, and I wanted my daughter to experience it, too,” he told The Monitor.
‘This is not a game’
Parishioner Mary Teresa Magdalena has been participating for years.
“I’m from Mexico City, but we used to attend a church and Stations of the Cross every Good Friday in Iztapalapa, Mexico, so this tradition is important,” she said.
“I want people to understand the respect that is given to this,” she added. “This is not a game. It is the absolute respect for God, which is exactly the reason why we have to devote this day to him.”
The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.