Students Learn Empathy Towards Jesus During Living Stations of the Cross
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During Danbury Catholic School's final hour of school before the Easter break, the older students relived Jesus' final hours during their Living Stations of the Cross.
"We want our students to experience what it was like and to reflect how Jesus suffered," said kindergarten teacher Michelle Drees.
The students indeed experienced Jesus' final walk. Using the Stations which line the walls at St. Mary's Church, the group of cast members following Jesus, played by Leo Dirksen, grew as they traveled towards the final destination at the front of the church. The kids, normally full of smiles and happy talk, remained somber during the reenactment. Numerous students explained that this annual event gives them perspective of the pain and suffering which Jesus endured.
"I like to do it (the Stations of the Cross) because it reminds people of the Stations of the Cross and what Jesus did for us," stated Emily Flammang who played Veronica.
Principal Molly Petersen agreed that the living stations help to remind those in attendance of the sacrifice Jesus gave.
"The Living Stations of the Cross really give the kids and the attendees a chance to imagine the sequence of events," added Principal Molly Petersen. "You don't just hear the story, but you see the kindness of Veronica when she wipes Jesus's face and you see Mary's despair as she tries to push through the crowd to get to her son. The music we incorporate helps give more context to the story and more time for personal reflection on the story unfolding."
"It was a sad story," said Charlotte Gagnon, one of the soldiers. "I was a solder, so I had to deal with the sadness."
The children do get into their parts, putting their hearts into their character.
"I felt scared, and I felt like a horrible person and weird when people were yelling to crucify him," commented Samantha Scofield who played the part of Barabbas.
Annika Doty, one of the women who met Jesus on the way to Golgatha, felt empathy for Mary, Jesus' mother.
"I felt bad for Mary because she had to watch her son die," she said.
Lauren Dirksen, who played Mary, had mixed thoughts, one as a student and one as Mary.
"It was weird," she said concerning having to hold Leo Dirksen, her classmate and pretending he was her son. "In real life, Mary would be really sad," she added.
Playing Jesus did give Leo a different perspective on the pain and suffering Jesus endured.
"It made me open my eyes how worse it (the crucifixion) actually was than what I thought it was," he said. He also enjoyed the opportunity to play such a significant part. "It was fun because I got to act out everything they did and experience it first hand," he added.
To the right, the group arrives at the sixth station, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Veronica holds up the cloth which was used by Jesus to wipe his face, and his image was left on the cloth.
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It was cold outside, but it was warm in Dana Hall for the Eggstropiganza. Using a tropical theme, kids were able to participate in multiple activities, including meeting the Easter Bunny.