(La Porte, IN) - In the Christian tradition, Friday was the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Many churches around La Porte commemorated Good Friday with services. La Porte’s Hispanic community held a special remembrance with living Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. It consisted of a re-enactment of Christ’s journey to Calvary in the city blocks around the church followed by a service inside the church afterward.
Associate Pastor Fr. Nate Edquist said the visual impact makes it easier, especially for children, to relate to their faith. "We use these actions to re-enact something that happened in the past in order to make it personal for us," he said. "Listening to all the little kids saying, 'What are they doing?' and then their parents will tell them, 'That's Barabbas,' or 'That's Pilate.' Year after year when we do this, for the younger generation, it becomes a part of you."
Living Stations of the Cross has become a regular event at St. Joe’s. The cast of re-enactors spend weeks preparing for the service, which is part performance, part ritual.
