News

Church performs annual Passion Play in Palatine

Posted April 10, 2009 11:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Angry townspeople denounce Jesus and call for his death. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

One of the oldest Passion Plays in the suburbs returned to the streets of Palatine Friday, as the cast of actors from Mision San Juan Diego faithfully re-enacted the events of Good Friday.

Alberto Contreras of Gilberts took the role of Jesus, as he has for several years. Crowds gathered on the curbs to watch, and all eyes were upon Contreras as the chilling procession worked its way about a mile from St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Palatine to Mision San Juan Diego in Arlington Heights, with more than 50 parishioners in various supporting roles: among them Mary, Jesus' mother; Pontius Pilate; Mary Magdalene; angry townspeople, brutal soldiers.

Contreras has studied with Passion scholars to improve his performance.

Mision San Juan Diego is the only entirely Spanish-speaking church in the Chicago Archdiocese. Theirs is one of several Passion Plays held in the suburbs on Good Friday; others are held in Waukegan and Elgin.

BILL ZARS/bzars@dailyherald.com A soldier guards Jesus, his back bloodied from the whips.

Jesus, portrayed by Alberto Contreras, struggles to carry his cross down Wilke Road toward Mision San Juan Diego. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Jesus and the two thieves hang on crosses near the end of the Good Friday dramatic interpretation of the Stations of the Cross at St. Thomas Villanova in Palatine and Mision San Juan Diego in Arlington Heights. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer