For 15 years, parish has re-enacted the Way of the Cross
Friday, Apr. 07, 2017
Intermountain Catholic
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Martin Ruelas, shown at a rehearsal, will be portraying Jesus at the living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem. IC photo/Laura Vallejo
By Laura Vallejo
Intermountain Catholic
OREM — The living Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis in Spanish, began as a way of reproducing the path that Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. In Utah, many parishes enact the Via Crucis, which traditionally takes place on Good Friday, bringing to life the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during his passion and crucifixion.
At St. Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem, the Sacred Art Ministry has been enacting a live Via Crucis every year since 2001.
“When I was a little kid, my father always took me to the Via Crucis in our home town,” said Andres Guerrero, a founding member of the Sacred Art Ministry who helps organize the parish’s event.
When the living Via Crucis was first proposed, “we all responded ‘yes,’ but we didn’t have anything,” said Guerrero. The next year, with the help of the parish pastor and the parish youth, the ministry started working to make the event come to life.
“We got some helmets donated from construction workers, some paint and we decorated them. Those were our first costumes,” Guerrero said.
As interest increased, other people donated more costumes and materials, and “little by little we grew into what we do today,” he said.
Now after 16 years, 30 people participate as the main characters and dozens more as secondary ones. Rather than enacting a dramatic theatrical performance, “we do a representation, trying to evangelize, to live the passion and death, not as actors but with all of our humility we try to re-enact what happened in that time,” Guerrero said.
The participants prepare for the Via Crucis by attending retreats and daily Mass, praying and meditating. Since March, those who will participate gather every Sunday after Mass to rehearse their roles.
“This has helped us to be more united,” said Carlos Reyes, who this year will portray one of the priests at the Via Crucis. “We grow by participating in this.”
For Gustavo Cervantes, who will portray Dismas, the “good thief,” participating is an interesting opportunity. “Many times we forget the infinite love of God and now we have the opportunity to give that message,” he said.
“For me it’s something very big. It’s not only doing a representation. Every year I get more immersed in meditating on Our Lord’s passion. I prepare by coming to daily Mass, fasting, praying,” said Cecilia Rios, who has participated in the parish Via Crucis for 10 years. This year she will undertake the role of Veronica.
Martin Ruelas will be representing Jesus for the third time.
“It’s something very important and special for me. It humbles me a lot to represent him. It is not an easy task. It has changed me a lot. Now I like to serve in my parish more, and before participating I didn’t. This has brought me to a real conversion,” said Ruelas, adding that he prays a lot so the Holy Spirit will give him light to guide him to be able to represent Jesus.
The Living Via Crucis at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish will take place on Friday, April 14 at 3 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
“The message of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ must get to every Catholic,” Guerrero said.
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