Youth ministries portray Living Stations for 25th year in Bayville
April 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
UPDATED APRIL 21, 2025
With each station, the last moments of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion were portrayed by members of the youth and young adult ministries at St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, on Good Friday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Living Stations in Bayville Parish
This Living Stations of the Cross April 18 marked the 25th anniversary of the tradition beloved by the parish youth ministry and community. Since its beginning in 1998, the number of young participants and parishioners has grown yearly.
Twenty-five years ago, Dan Waddington, then-youth minister at St. Barnabas Parish, changed the performance of the Easter Passion play to the Living Stations prayer experience. Waddington currently serves as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Diocese of Trenton.
Reflection and depiction
Each Station began with a message and a reflection read in the darkness for a focused time of prayer and meditation. Then spotlights filled the stage, highlighting young people posing, as the room filled with a song with lyrics connected to what was depicted.
After a garden scene, the plants, symbolizing life, slowly faded out to signify how Jesus’ life fades out in each Station. During the final scene, the youth processed around the room with the body of Christ, holding dimly lit candles in a time of reverence for his suffering and death. Because it was Good Friday, Veneration of the Cross followed for all participants and guests.
“The mere fact that the young take on emulating what our Lord went through at his passion and death is a powerful sign to us that our young have understood the message Jesus left us with, mainly, that true love wears an apron and serves others,” said Father Carlos Florez, pastor of St. Barnabas Parish.
Tradition carried out
The Living Stations experience is presented by the BAM junior youth ministry, grades 6-8, and the BAT high school youth ministry.
“The Living Stations, and our youth and young adult programs, would not take place without the support of our team, the youth, and their families. We are blessed here at St. Barnabas,” said Tim Blumensteel, youth minister.
The stage and scenery set up is done by DRIFT, the parish’s young adult ministry, ages 18-39, under the guidance of Paul Pasquarello.
Pasquarello has helped to bring the Living Stations to life for their 25 years of production. He has helped to plan, design, supervise the building, ensure the set is safe n to stand on, and take down the set and stage.
“I hope that people walk away with the same feeling that I get every time I see it. I've been in the chairs and the seats for 25 years, and every year, it touches me and speaks to me in a different way,” said Pasquarello, now a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.
A lasting message
Vinny Penicaro, a member of St. Barnabas Parish and a freshman at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, portrayed Jesus and described how it was meaningful to him because of what his Lord and Savior did for people. He said he was nervous, because he wanted to try to be perfect for Jesus, despite nobody being perfect.
He said he hoped those who attended “took away and fully understand what he went through for us, how much he loves us, and that he would do it all over again if he could.”
Mallory Lepore of Church of the Visitation, Brick, and a senior at Toms River High School North, Toms River, depicted Mary, Mother of God. She said she grew up watching the Living Stations and always wanted to portray Mary.
“I hope people took away the story behind it, the way that Jesus was hurt, and how he gave everything for us,” she said.
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UPDATED APRIL 21, 2025
With each station, the last moments of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion were portrayed by members of the youth and young adult ministries at St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, on Good Friday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Living Stations in Bayville Parish
This Living Stations of the Cross April 18 marked the 25th anniversary of the tradition beloved by the parish youth ministry and community. Since its beginning in 1998, the number of young participants and parishioners has grown yearly.
Twenty-five years ago, Dan Waddington, then-youth minister at St. Barnabas Parish, changed the performance of the Easter Passion play to the Living Stations prayer experience. Waddington currently serves as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Diocese of Trenton.
Reflection and depiction
Each Station began with a message and a reflection read in the darkness for a focused time of prayer and meditation. Then spotlights filled the stage, highlighting young people posing, as the room filled with a song with lyrics connected to what was depicted.
After a garden scene, the plants, symbolizing life, slowly faded out to signify how Jesus’ life fades out in each Station. During the final scene, the youth processed around the room with the body of Christ, holding dimly lit candles in a time of reverence for his suffering and death. Because it was Good Friday, Veneration of the Cross followed for all participants and guests.
“The mere fact that the young take on emulating what our Lord went through at his passion and death is a powerful sign to us that our young have understood the message Jesus left us with, mainly, that true love wears an apron and serves others,” said Father Carlos Florez, pastor of St. Barnabas Parish.
Tradition carried out
The Living Stations experience is presented by the BAM junior youth ministry, grades 6-8, and the BAT high school youth ministry.
“The Living Stations, and our youth and young adult programs, would not take place without the support of our team, the youth, and their families. We are blessed here at St. Barnabas,” said Tim Blumensteel, youth minister.
The stage and scenery set up is done by DRIFT, the parish’s young adult ministry, ages 18-39, under the guidance of Paul Pasquarello.
Pasquarello has helped to bring the Living Stations to life for their 25 years of production. He has helped to plan, design, supervise the building, ensure the set is safe n to stand on, and take down the set and stage.
“I hope that people walk away with the same feeling that I get every time I see it. I've been in the chairs and the seats for 25 years, and every year, it touches me and speaks to me in a different way,” said Pasquarello, now a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.
A lasting message
Vinny Penicaro, a member of St. Barnabas Parish and a freshman at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, portrayed Jesus and described how it was meaningful to him because of what his Lord and Savior did for people. He said he was nervous, because he wanted to try to be perfect for Jesus, despite nobody being perfect.
He said he hoped those who attended “took away and fully understand what he went through for us, how much he loves us, and that he would do it all over again if he could.”
Mallory Lepore of Church of the Visitation, Brick, and a senior at Toms River High School North, Toms River, depicted Mary, Mother of God. She said she grew up watching the Living Stations and always wanted to portray Mary.
“I hope people took away the story behind it, the way that Jesus was hurt, and how he gave everything for us,” she said.