I would have shared this with you earlier, but I didn’t hear about it until Lent was over! So, file this one away for next Lent.
I recently heard about a parish that did the Stations of the Cross during Lent through their neighborhood, arranging to stop at 14 pre-selected homes where each Station was prayed. I think this is a wonderful idea and a way to get families involved in a traditional Lenten practice. I can envision the following:
- a large, lightweight wooden cross to be carried throughout, beginning with the priest, deacon, or other designated leader of the prayer and then continuing with a representative of each of the 14 homes carrying the cross to the next destination.
- a leader of song (with proper portable PA system) to lead refrains of “Were You There?,” “Stabat Mater,” “Jesus Remember Me,” and/or other refrains as the crowd proceeds from one home to another.
- a large poster of each Station to be displayed at each house. I would use ones at least 24” x 36”.
- at each home, the cross would be accepted by someone from the family/household and held on the front steps/porch/lawn/stoop. Another family member would hold up the poster as the prayers are prayed.
- a moment of silence at each Station.
- perhaps the Stations would begin and end at the church, thus decreasing the number of families/households needed to be arranged ahead of time to 12 instead of 14.
What else can you envision happening in such an approach to the Stations of the Cross?
Absolutely love the idea of a neighborhood Stations of the Cross.
Will plan to use it next year!