Heading towards Easter Sunday, City of Newburgh residents and parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church performed a live procession of the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 29. The procession made its way along Broadway and several city streets in commemoration of the journey towards Jesus’s death.

The Catholic and some other Christian faiths celebrate Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, by recounting the events of the Passion leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Stations of the Cross are various points along the journey leading up to the crucifixion that are either portrayed by actors or are celebrated in prayer services.

New and longtime parishioners and guests of the procession were grateful for the opportunity to be together with one another, uniting in faith heading into the Easter season. “We are celebrating today the Passion, the death of Jesus, and we are happy to be together all as Catholics,” said Norma Hawley.

“I feel like it’s a privilege to be part of our community in something like this, to reflect on our beliefs as Catholics and to help unite people who are in pain and going through their own suffering these days throughout our whole community and our whole world and to unite those prayers together with everyone,” said Theresa Kavanagh.

“I’ve been walking as an individual and now with my kids so it’s definitely good to bring them back to that same scene and walking with Jesus. You feel it when you walk through the streets today,” said Maria Tapia. “Definitely excited, emotional and full of joy.”

“Last year was the first year that we participated, and I couldn’t get over how realistic the actors were and you just really felt like you were part of it when it really happened,” said Donna Brown. “This is a wonderful community that we have here.”

The hope now, as others said is for people to come to reflect on that event and to return to the church. “I wish that everyone who looks at us that is Catholic, but is not coming to church that they start coming now to church,” said Alida Colon.

“I’m impressed by all the members of the church that got involved with this program. It’s a big effort and to see the response of the community coming out on their porches to watch us walk by. It’s amazing witness,” said Tim Brown. “Hopefully it’ll bring people back into the church.”

The city’s procession was spoken and prayed in both English and Spanish and many of the actors performing were members of the congregation at St. Patrick’s. Along the way, people watched and prayed together. Some took photos and others sang songs.

The procession began and made its way down Liberty Street, turning on Benkard Avenue, then making another turn on to William St before returning to Broadway. Along the path, each of the Stations of the Cross are acted out with songs and prayers in remembrance.

The procession concluded in the parking lot of the church back on Liberty St. Parishioners gathered in front of Jesus’ and the two criminal’s crosses as the remainder of the stations were acted out. With one final breath, Jesus cried out to God and breathed his last for all to witness.

Following his death, Jesus was then removed from the cross and taken to be prepared for his burial and parishioners made their way inside St. Patrick’s to pray for the remainder of the afternoon. Thus concluded another live procession as the city prepared for Easter.

Holy Procession Cast: Jesus- Juan Machuca; Mary (Mother of Jesus)- Yolanda Perez; Caifas- Sergio Soto; Pontius Pilate- Wilfrido Escorcia; Simon of Cyrene- Eliseo Alvarado; Criminals Crucified With Jesus-on Jesus’s Left Side: Esteban Guerrero Jr. and on Jesus’s Right Side: Gerber Ramos; Judas the Traitor (who hangs himself)- Rafael Martinez; Mary Magdalene (women who cries kneeling next to Jesus)- Eugenia Ramirez; Veronica (who wipes Jesus’s face with a cloth)- Karla Romero; Head Roman Soldier- Byron Menegazzo and Barrabas (prisoner who is let go in place of Jesus)- Rafael Rodriguez.