Stations of the Cross 'a part of our culture'

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Miguel Hidalgo watches as Joe Haggett, 16, dressed as Jesus, and members of Annunciation Catholic Church and Light of the World Catholic Church re-enact the Stations of the Cross.

Ricky and Christina Rodri guez took a half day off Friday so they and their children could participate in a Stations of the Cross procession in north Denver.

"My son was questioning about Easter and what it was all about," said Christina Rodri guez, 25, of Denver. "We wanted to bring the children to see the religious side of Easter."

The Rodriguezes - along with their 10-year-old son, Christian, and 8-month old daughter, Jazlin - were among nearly 100 people who turned out for the annual Good Friday event held by the Annunciation Catholic Church.

The Stations of the Cross procession is a pilgrimage in which the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ are re-enacted.

Friday, Annunciation pastor the Rev. Francisco Ramirez and youth director Gerardo Hernandez took turns reading the meditations in Spanish at each of the 14 stations, which were staged along a two-block route near Annunciation Catholic Church.

Between each stop, the crowd sang the chorus, Perdona a tu pueblo, Senor; Perdona a tu pueblo, perdonale, Senor (Forgive your people, Master) as they filled the streets.

Marcelo Garcia, 43, a missionary with the Light of the World Catholic Church in Littleton, brought his 7-year-old son, Diego, to the event.

"It's a way to celebrate Easter," said Garcia. "It's a tribute to our faith. It's important for us to remember the example of Jesus Christ."

Margarita Ruiz, 39, belongs to another parish in Denver, but said she felt it was important for her two daughters, ages 9 and 11, to learn about the Stations of the Cross.

"It's tradition, it's a part of our culture," she said. "It teaches them about sacrifice - the sacrifice that is Christ."

The last station - Jesus is laid in the tomb - was held in front of the altar inside Annunciation church.

This year, the main actors in the procession were not drawn from the church, although the roles of Mary, Veronica, and the daughters of Jerusalem were.

Instead, the roles of Jesus, the two Roman guards, and Simon of Cyrene, were played by members of Mission Youth who were helping Annunciation church celebrate Holy Week. Mission Youth draws from a number of churches in the metro Denver area.

Joe Haggett, 16, of Littleton, who played Jesus, said he was moved by the experience.

"I think it's an honor," he said. "I don't know how to describe it - it's extremely powerful and emotional. There's a spiritual basis and it's also very physically challenging."