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Crowds celebrate Good Friday on a deeper level through Living Stations of the Cross

Posted at 5:57 PM, Apr 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-19 22:31:37-04

Christians are observing one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar as Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

At UL, students reenacted the Passion of Christ with a Living Stations of the Cross.

One student in particular is using this day to dig deeper into his faith.

When he was first offered the chance to play Jesus Christ during the Living Stations of the Cross, UL sophomore Mitchell Cope didn’t want to take it.

UL Sophomore Mitchell Cope plays the role of Jesus.

“Father Pete asked me, and I was like, ‘Look… not me. I don’t know.’ He was like, ‘Think about it. Pray about it.’ Well, then a day later, I walked into [Our Lady of] Wisdom and was like, ‘Okay, I’ll do it. Okay, I’ll try it,” said UL sophomore Cope.

It’s a decision to which Cope says he is proud.

He explained, “During the first practice, I had a touch of the Holy Spirit on the cross, and it’s just been more exciting every day. As we go through the walk-throughs, I get a taste of what it’s like. It’s an emotional roller coaster while we’re out there.”

Over a hundred people followed the students through a muddy Girard Park. “I just hope the people get to walk away with this experience and, like, a conviction at heart and see what Jesus went through… just to get a little experience of what it was like.”

The viewers who did attend said they did. “I think with everything else going on, when we’re able to participate at this level, it just goes a little bit deeper,” said a father of a UL student.

Living Stations of the Cross has been a student-directed event since 2003.