While Mel Gibson’s block-buster movie,
”
The Passion of the Christ,
”
is still playing in local theaters, Christians are gearing up to
celebrate the most important period of the church year: Holy
Week.
While Mel Gibson’s block-buster movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” is still playing in local theaters, Christians are gearing up to celebrate the most important period of the church year: Holy Week. Two Gilroy Churches invite South County residents to join in observances of the climactic events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
For centuries Christians have presented Passion Plays, reenactments of the final days of Christ. This month New Hope Community Church (now located at 8886 Muraoka Drive) will offer free admission to “The Choice,” a dramatic musical for Easter, on April 2,3,4, and 9 at 7:00 p.m.
This new rendering of the ancient story follows Mark, a fictional Roman soldier, as he sees the miracles worked by Jesus, is present as a centurion at the crucifixion, and finally makes a decision to give up his old life and follow the way of the Savior.
The audience at this powerful drama will enjoy a fully orchestrated performance with a choir of 36 and a cast of nearly 50, from children to senior citizens. The elaborate set, designed by artist Shane Grammer, is spectacularly realistic, as are the costumes worn by the actors.
While there is no charge for admission, seating can be guaranteed by making reservations at 842-4857 or www.nhccgilroy.org. Visitors are invited to remain after the performances to patronize a cafe decorated to resemble first century Jerusalem. While enjoying refreshments, the audience members can mingle with staff and cast members to ask questions about acting, the play, stage craft, or the life of Jesus.
On April 9th, St. Mary’s Catholic Church will present a traditional outdoor Stations of the Cross observance sponsored by Juventude Cristiana, the parish’s Latino young adult group. Participants at the event will accompany an actor representing Jesus as he follows The Way of the Cross, a series of 14 incidents described in the gospels while Jesus made his way to Golgotha for his painful execution.
Each of the stations (stopping points) will be decorated by one of the parish groups: lectors, catechists, etc. The members of each ministry will be dressed in costume and add to the realism of the event.
The Stations of the Cross will be held on the St. Mary School yard and begin at 4:30 p.m., but this is only the first part of a three-part ritual:
*After this Passion Play, everyone will assemble in the church for Adoration of the Cross, a period of private reverence of God accompanied by the choir singing appropriate hymns.
*Then the evening will conclude with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist (a Communion Service utilizing elements of the Reserved Sacrament), concluding about 7:30 p.m.
Although this Good Friday observance will be presented entirely in Spanish, anyone is welcome to participate. Vicente Leal, one of the coordinators of the event, says that “all will be touched by this opportunity to accompany Jesus on the journey of his last hours.”
For more information call 847-5151.
Chuck Flagg teaches English at Mt. Madonna High School. Write him c/o The Dispatch, P.O. Box 22365, Gilroy, CA 95021.
