EASTER 2019: Maida Vale Parish re-enacts Stations of the Cross

30 May 2019

By The Record

Maida Vale Parish celebrated the 2019 Easter Triduum with a live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, 19 April 2019. Photo: Supplied.

The parishioners of St Francis of Assisi, Maida Vale, celebrated the 2019 Easter Triduum with a live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, 19 April.

The cast and crew consisted of many ministries, families and children from the parish community who participated in an emotional and solemn re-enactment of Jesus’ walk to Mount Calvary.

The Church sanctuary was transformed into a contemporary Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem as spirit-filled actors depicted each station of Our Lord’s Passion in graphic tribute; excited to invoke the life and trials of the biblical figures whose stories have formed the foundation of our Christian faith.

Journeying with Christ through His suffering and death with fervent prayers and intimate reflections between each station the crammed Church shared in a powerful public witness of Christ’s compassion, forgiveness, and mercy for the salvation of our souls on the sorrowful day of his crucifixion.

New Parish Priest Fr Joseph Rathnaraj and Permanent Deacon Trevor Lyra were central in educating and guiding the congregation through the personal contemplations and prayers of the Live Passion.

The live stations after three years has become a popular and eagerly anticipated devotion on Good Friday with parishioners. It is viewed as an invaluable Lenten pilgrimage and important preparation for Easter.

The Maida Vale Parish stations 2019 cast. Photo: Supplied.

In a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during his Passion, many members of the congregation were moved to tears as the agony and torment of Christs sacrifice was revealed with scriptural efficacy.

Several weeks of rehearsals, costume designs, construction of props, and liturgical instruction culminated in a flawless reminder of the true meaning of our Lenten obligations.

The Sunday morning 9.30am choir added an emotive musical dimension to the occasion, singing a heartfelt rendition of the Stabat Mater.

Under the stewardship and direction of parishioner Maria Filamor, it is hoped that the Easter message of Christ’s resurrection will continue to resonate fiercely at St Francis of Assisi and manifest itself with greater numbers of parishioners involving themselves in future live stations at the parish.