PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Jesus, Justo Barrios, reenacts Jesus carrying the cross at a rehearsal for the Good Friday Procession at St. Joseph’s Church in Lynn. Soldiers behind him are Juan Silva, left, and Wilbur Guevara, right.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — The faithful at St. Joseph’s Church will get a firsthand look at the day Jesus died as parishioners perform the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
The event will begin Friday at 11:30 a.m., at the Commons, and will stretch for two-and-a-half miles, ending with the “crucifixion” at Parish Hall at 39 Green St.
There are 14 stations of the cross. The 12th depicts Jesus dying on the cross. The final two are devoted to removing his body from the cross and laying it in a tomb, according to Catholic teachings.
Dora Garcia, an organizer of the Good Friday Procession, oversaw the practice of the procession on Sunday afternoon.
Garcia said more than 150 participants, including about eight lead roles, would be performing what happens at the first 12 stations. She said Jesus, played by Justo Barrios, of Lynn, will be carrying a 35-pound cross throughout the procession while being struck with rubber whips by two men playing Roman soldiers. Throughout the journey, Jesus will fall four times while carrying the cross.
“It’s important for kids to see what Jesus went through and what he did for us,” Garcia said.
The play will be performed in Spanish, as St. Joseph’s is a Spanish church. Participation in the annual play, which began in 2003, has grown from just a dozen people. Garcia said she’s been getting more participants from all different countries. Practice has been going on for six weeks each Sunday afternoon.
The performers, whose primary language is Spanish, spoke through Garcia as interpreter.
Rosa Carrero, who will play the Virgin Mary, said that she was participating to find Jesus.
“It’s a way of evangelizing people and talking about the word of Jesus,” said Gilmar DeLeon, who plays Pontius Pilate.
Barrios said that the play is a way to bring the message to the young generation and a way for people to get to know Jesus.
“Good Friday is a respected day by all Catholics because we know it as the day that Jesus went through all the suffering,” Garcia said. “In a lot of countries, Good Friday is a day people don’t even work out of respect for Jesus’ death.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at gcawley@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley