Catechist's Journey

Pop-Up Catechesis: The Stations of the Cross

One of the hallmarks of Catholic spirituality is the practice of going on a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey to a location of significance to our faith. In the centuries following Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, it was common practice for people to visit Jerusalem and retrace the steps of Jesus as he was led to his Crucifixion on Calvary. As time passed and Christianity spread, it became increasingly difficult for people to travel to the Holy Land for this pilgrimage. As […]

Stations of the Cross Booklet

Joe Paprocki

We pray the Stations of the Cross to live Jesus’ suffering in his Passion and the love given to him along the way. At each station we stop, pray, and reflect. To help you explore the Stations of the Cross with your group, download our free foldable booklet. The mini-book is designed to be printed on 8½” x 11” paper and includes spaces for children to draw their own pictures or symbols for the stations. […]

video screenshot of "How Jesus Responds to Suffering as Demonstrated in the Scriptural Stations of the Cross"

How Jesus Responds to Suffering (VIDEO)

Denise Gorss

We know the Stations of the Cross as a traditional Lenten devotion, but how can we connect the Way of the Cross to our lives? Author Gary Jansen suggests that by walking through each station, we see the unique ways in which Jesus responded to suffering, and we are challenged to react similarly in our own struggles. Jansen writes: Though Jesus seems passive throughout his Passion—he never lifts a finger against anyone and he barely […]

Stations of the Cross image by Steve Snodgrass under CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

How the Stations of the Cross Teach Us a “Way of Proceeding”

Joe Paprocki

In his book, Station to Station: An Ignatian Journey through the Stations of the Cross, author Gary Jansen tells the story of a noted psychologist who asked an audience, “If I squeeze an orange, what comes out?” After a hesitation, one person shouted out, “Orange juice!” The psychologist responded, “Orange juice. Yes. Why?” Again, after a hesitation, one person answered, “Because that’s what’s inside the orange.” The psychologist affirmed that and said, “We could say […]

File Away for Next Lent: Neighborhood Way of the Cross

Joe Paprocki

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. […]

Station to Station Questions for Reflection and Discussion - Praying with the Stations of the Cross

Praying with the Stations of the Cross—With Free Station to Station Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Special Contributor

This article is by Gary Jansen, author of Station to Station: An Ignatian Journey through the Stations of the Cross. On Good Friday, 1991, Pope John Paul II introduced an alternative way to pray the Stations of the Cross. Foregoing some of the traditional scenes that are not found in the Bible (e.g., Veronica wipes the face of Jesus), this new approach to the centuries-old devotion allowed believers to engage in the mysteries of Christ’s […]

Teaching the Stations of the Cross

Lisa Jones

Children typically really enjoy Lent. It is a season of the Church when they can set practical goals to give up, give away, and pray more. But sometimes we forget to teach our kids the “why” of Lent. What is it that we are trying to achieve with our Lenten observations? What is the goal of Lent? When I explain Lent to children, I always explain that we are preparing our hearts to meet the […]

Jury Duty Today – Living Stations Tonight

Joe Paprocki

So here I am doing my civic duty as a standby juror at the Bridgeview Courthouse! So far, I’ve had lots of time to get some writing done as I sit here waiting. We’ll see how long that lasts! Tonight, I’ll be taking my sixth graders to the Living Stations of the Cross being performed by our eighth graders. It is a good Holy Week experience for them and is done very prayerfully. Here is […]

Living Stations

Joe Paprocki

This past Monday, the 4th graders put on the Living Stations of the Cross and they did a wonderful job. I was very impressed with how prayerful and mature they were…the whole experience was done with great reverence. Here’s a pic and then an invitation from a catechist named Ron to view their Living Stations in a picture gallery, station-by-station. Thanks Ron! All, Click the link below, if you’d like to see Station-by-Station scenes of […]

Another Living Stations Script

Joe Paprocki

Here’s another Living Stations script…this one from Sr. Marie who read my post about Living Stations scripts just after she got home from coordinating the Living Stations at her parish! Trooper that she is, she immediately sent this script along. Thanks Sr. Marie! Living Stations Script – Sr Marie