Stations of the cross come alive for Lent at Geneva church
The passion of Jesus is illustrated through the stations of the cross, traditionally a series of 14 pictures hanging on the walls inside a church sanctuary.
Parishioners at St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva are bringing those pictures to life with a drama depicting Christ's final hours -- and the meaning of the Lenten season.
With music, a narrator and a Greek chorus, this living stations of the cross explores Christ's crucifixion and the redemption that is found by many who are drawn into the event.
"You really get a feeling for what the people on this journey were going through," said Drew Von Ruden, who plays Jesus. "You become connected to their thoughts and emotions."
The drama will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and again on Good Friday, March 21, at the church, 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva.
More than 30 parishioners, often including entire families, are involved in the production. As they prepared for a dress rehearsal Sunday afternoon, they reflected on what it means to be part of the annual event.
"It's a better way to learn the stations than just reading about them," said Randy Deutschendorf, whose character Simon is forced by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry the cross, and then realizes that Jesus is the Savior.
"It's a time when you give of your time and of yourself," Deutschendorf said of participating in the Lenten pageant.
Mario Balettie plays a pallbearer in this year's performance. He said he likes to see the reactions of audience members.
"There are a lot of teary eyes," Balettie said. "It makes you feel like you brought something to the season."
Vicki Danklefsen plays a weeping woman of Jerusalem in the drama.
"It's easy to cry in this presentation," she said.
With simple costumes and props, the performers act out the events as a narrator describes the action. Then, for each station of the cross, the performers freeze into a tableaux as one of the chorus members takes the audience into the mind of a key character in the scene.
"It sure makes you think," said Ron Volk, who plays Pontius Pilate.
Though Pilate is often viewed as a villain for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus, Volk has found sympathy for the character he plays.
"He couldn't quite understand why people followed Jesus," Volk said.
Admission to the one-hour presentation is free. For more information, call the church at (630) 232-0124.