First Posted: 3/27/2015
WEST WYOMING — Passionately delivered dialogue, a full musical score and lightning and thunder punctuated a dramatic and intense reenactment of the Passion of Jesus Christ as a production of “The Living Way of the Cross” was presented by the St. Monica Parish Youth on March 26.
There was scarcely room in the pews as parishioners gathered to witness the depiction of the stations of the cross.
It is customary for Catholic communities to recall the 14 stages of Christ’s crucifixion during this time of year. They believe that remembering this central part of their faith, in which Christ sacrificed himself in the name of love for humanity, is good preparation for Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday, March 29, and culminates on Easter Sunday, April 5.
At St. Monica’s, the production team, actors and actresses pride themselves in the amount of preparation that they undergo to give a proper performance. The costumes are detailed, the physicality believable and the cross large enough to paint a vivid picture.
“There’s a bit more action to it,” said Michele Belcastro of Wyoming. Belcastro, who handles the music for the performance, noted that dedication to full dialogue instead of simply narration, as well as attention to special effects, makes for a powerful production.
“It brings life to the whole thing,” said Elaine Kelley. “We do it with lights. We do it with thunder. It comes alive.”
The Wyoming resident, who has been producing and designing costumes for the production for 25 years, gave all due credit to her actors and actresses, noting that each participant knew every part and could stand in for anyone in the event of an absence.
Kelley said she likes to get high-school aged children involved, because they are old enough to get into character and become the role they are playing.
Tryouts were held during the third week in January, and all of the kids gathered every Sunday for two hours in preparation for Thursday night and an encore performance Friday night.
Steven Homza of Exeter has played a role for a few years in a row. Last year he was Judas, and this year he took on the part of Peter.
The 16 year old believes that by reenacting the stations, they are able to show an audience, in more depth, what Christ endured by showing it to them rather than just reading it.
Homza enjoyed both being part of the performance and gathering weekly to rehearse with his friends. “To be honest, I look forward to this every single year,” he said.
Another actor had recollections of seeing the living stations as a youngster. Blaise Erzar recalled seeing the production as a small child and covering his eyes during the crucifixion scene.
Ironically, the 16 year old West Wyoming resident was the one who was placed on that cross this year, as he held the central role, depicting Christ.
Erzar said he hopes that the group’s performance allows the audience to see that Christ’s journey was a difficult one, but despite the solemn nature of the history, Erzar takes a positive view of remembering the events.
“It reminds me to be a good person, to be a good Christian,” he said.
Fr. Leo McKernan explained that remembering the stations of the cross in a vivid way is a deeper way into meditation on the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and therefore is a meaningful way to prepare for the holiest of Christian weeks and holidays.
“It helps us to see, being that it is a living stations, that there were human beings involved,” he said. “It was a person. It was not just an idea, not just … a philosophy but a person involved, and in the end, it’s all connected with love. That’s the only kind of way to really understand it.”
