Mary, Seat of Wisdom students reenact Stations of the Cross at Park Ridge Catholic school

Mary, Seat of Wisdom School’s eighth grade class put on their first pageant of the Stations of the Cross March 31, with students reading and reenacting Jesus’ march to crucifixion and death before their fellow students and congregants at the Catholic school in Park Ridge.

In Christianity, the Stations of the Cross commemorate important moments in the final hours of Jesus Christ from when he was condemned to death to when he was laid in the tomb.

Eighth grade religion teacher Diana Guerrieri and 4th grade teacher Daniela Romano were the staff leads for this year’s production of the Living Stations of the Cross. The second presentation of the stations will be the evening of Good Friday, which this year is April 7, Guerrieri said in an email to Pioneer Press.

Students practiced their presentation for about two weeks, she said.

“We have discussed Jesus’ last few days extensively as a part of our preparation,” Guerrieri wrote. “Students had an opportunity to select their roles in the stations and explain why they would like to represent that person.”

Guerrieri said that her hope is for students to personally connect with Jesus’ story and sacrifice by participating in the presentation.

“We hope that students will be able to understand the solemnity and importance of reenacting and remembering the last few days of Christ’s human life,” she said.

While half of the eighth grade acted out the stations, the other half took turns reading and leading songs and prayers meant to help their peers reflect on the story and their own lives.

“Our reenactment takes Jesus’ Passion and brings it to life in a way that our school and parish communities can understand, empathize, and internalize Jesus’ experience,” Guerrieri wrote.

The 41-student class split in half for the two reenactments, with the half that led songs and prayers for the March 31 presentation set to act out the stations in the April 7 presentation.

The Living Stations of the Cross is a 33-year tradition, according to Mary, Seat of Wisdom communications director Joan Mattingly.

Guerrieri wrote that at Mary, Seat of Wisdom, the stations of the cross presentation ends with veneration of the cross.

“Each person in the church walks up to the cross and venerates it to what the cross represents to our faith,” she said. “To venerate means to show great respect for - so our students walk up and simply bow - but other parishes may kiss the cross or genuflect [briefly bend down on one knee] while making the sign of the cross.”