Faithful observe Good Friday at St. Joan of Arc Church in Victorville

Hundreds of worshipers on Good Friday gathered outside of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Victorville to observe the Stations of the Cross.

Dressed as Jesus, Mauro Bravo carried a large wooden cross to 14 smaller crosses, or stations, posted along C Street and throughout a parking lot across from the church.

Nearly 300 people carrying crosses followed Bravo to each station, while a guitar player led the congregants in song.

Each station represents one of the final events of Jesus’s last days before being crucified.

The first station represents Pontius Pilate, the governor of the Roman province of Judaea, condemning Jesus to die.

The 12th station commemorates Jesus dying on the cross, and the 14th station, positioned in front of the church, represented Jesus being placed into a sepulcher, a tomb cut into a rock or built of stone.

At each station, the grouped prayed and recited a reading as many genuflected or knelt before the cross.

Holding back tears, Bravo said that carrying the cross was an emotional experience for him.

“I felt sad for what Jesus endured for the sins of mankind,” said Bravo, 55, of Adelanto. “Carrying the cross helped me to recognize everything that he went through for us.”

History and faith

Historically, the Roman Empire used crucifixion as a means to put to death religious and political agitators, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

The Book of Matthew says that while the Romans carried out the deed, the Jewish religious leaders were responsible for Jesus’s death, claiming that “He has spoken blasphemy.”

From a Christian perspective, Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity. Three days later, according to Christian tradition, he rose from the dead — a celebratory moment celebrated on Easter.

‘A special day’

St. Joan of Arc member Lucy Sandavol, who was baptized there in 1962, said Friday’s observance is a reminder that “Jesus Christ died for our sins and forgave us.

“It always means so much to me to come here on this day and to be with everyone,” said Sandavol, who celebrated her first communion, confirmation and marriage at the church. “Good Friday is such a special day.”

Wearing a white Catholic chapel veil, Olivia Ontiveros explained that although Jesus’ death was painful, it opened the door for people to be forgiven.

“Christ’s death, burial and resurrection was all part of God’s plan to redeem mankind from sin,” said Ontiveros, who lives in Victorville. “More people need to understand that.”

View the Good Friday photo gallery at vvdailypress.com.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Faithful observe Good Friday at St. Joan of Arc Church in Victorville