Rosariohanon's Passion of the Christ

The cast and crew of Rosariohanon’s production of the Stations of the Cross.

The most entertaining part of Holy Week in Rosario, for me, had to be the choir group’s reenactment of the Stations of the Cross, popularly known even here as the “Passion of the Christ” thanks to Mel Gibson.

The group had been preparing costumes and practicing daily for several weeks, and the end result was indicative of that effort. The procession began 4AM Saturday at the church, winding throughout town before ending a couple of miles away at Rosario National High School.

Each station involved readings, with the youth acting out what was being said. The event lasted through sunrise, until about 6:30AM.

Below are pictures from their performance:

The First Station – Jesus institutes the Eucharist

The Second Station – Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Third Station – Jesus before the Sanhedrin

The Fourth Station – Jesus is crowned with thorns

June (pictured above with the microphone) narrated the action at each station, which was then followed by scripture read by one of the apostles.

The Fifth Station – Jesus carries the cross to Calvary

The Sixth Station – Jesus falls under the weight of the cross

The Seventh Station – Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene

The Eighth Station – Jesus meets the pious women of Jerusalem

The Ninth Station – Jesus is nailed on the cross

Father Roni (left front) walks with the twelve apostles (in the black sashes) between stations.

The Tenth Station – Jesus promises heaven to the repentant thief

The Eleventh Station – Jesus entrusts Mary and Joseph to each other

The Twelfth Station – Jesus dies on the cross

Elmer played guitar as we walked between stations, coaxing the crowd to sing hymns along the way.

The Thirteenth Station – Jesus is laid in the tomb

The Fourteenth Station – Jesus rises from death