The 39th annual “Living Stations of the Cross” program was presented at Blessed Trinity / St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Apalachin, N.Y. on Good Friday, April 3. Pictured are youth cast members performing the eighth of fourteen stations, “Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem.” (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
From left, Ben Cacciaglia, Will Delaney, and Daniel Raftis participated in the 39th annual “Living Stations of the Cross” program presented at Blessed Trinity / St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Apalachin, N.Y. on Good Friday, April 3. Will Delaney played the role of Jesus on April 3, yet all three young men have played the role multiple times. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Twenty-five young adults from Tioga County churches performed in the 39th annual “Living Stations of the Cross” at Blessed Trinity / St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Apalachin, N.Y. on Good Friday, April 3. Over 200 people attended and gave the youth cast a standing ovation. (Provided photo)
On Friday, April 3, 25 area youth presented the “Living Stations of the Cross” at St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Apalachin, N.Y. In its 39th year, the program, originally established in 1977 by then Father Elmer Schmidt, is now a tradition during the Lenten season of Blessed Trinity / St. Patrick Parishes in Tioga County, N.Y. A re-enactment of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, 200 or more attendees filled St. Margaret Mary’s Church on Good Friday.
Youth participants came from the four churches that make up Blessed Trinity / St. Patrick Parishes including St. James in Waverly, St. John the Evangelist in Newark Valley, St. Patrick in Owego and St. Margaret Mary, as well as other denominations in Tioga County.
As shared by the “Catholic Courier” on April 1, Pope Francis communicated during a general audience address that, “A good Easter requires making Jesus’ passion one’s own.”
That is exactly the passion portrayed by the 25 youth during the “Living Stations of the Cross.” Performed in the round at St. Margaret Mary’s, as soon as the lights dimmed the audience was immediately drawn into the inspiring and emotional delivery by the youth cast, from the first station when Jesus is condemned to death to the final four stations when Jesus is nailed and died on the cross and laid in the tomb. A narration by youth readers, period costumes and lighting effects added authentic depiction and perspective to the performance.
Attendees seated in the front rows could be seen wiping away tears during the final stations, which also highlighted the youth singing a compelling rendition of the song, “Be Not Afraid.” At the conclusion of the performance, the youth cast were given a well-deserved standing ovation.
Three cast members, Ben Cacciaglia, Will Delaney and Daniel Raftis, have all played the role of Jesus multiple times in past shows. The role of Jesus in the April 3 show, played by Owego Free Academy (OFA) senior Will Delaney, marks his last performance.
Delaney explained that the experience is especially meaningful when people from the audience come up to him afterwards and share that the show itself and his personal performance have changed their lives.
Cacciaglia, also a senior at OFA, and Raftis, an OFA sophomore, shared similar sentiments.
“It’s powerful what Jesus did,” Raftis said, and in regard to playing the role, he added, “It’s very humbling.” All three youth explained that while playing the role of Jesus they were captivated in the moment, so much so Cacciaglia shared, “I felt the Holy Spirit.”
Father Thomas Valenti concurred that the youth do feel “the power of the Holy Spirit” and shared with attendees prior to the performance that the youth cast had done a truly amazing job, which was a reflection of “the power of this Good Friday.”
Graduating seniors, Cacciaglia, Delaney, and Tim Brown were recognized prior to the performance. Cacciaglia received the “Life of Christ” award, which was voted on by junior and senior members of the cast.
In addition to the youth cast, directors Dan Cacciaglia and Tim Loso, other adult advisors, costume, make-up, lights and sound volunteers, and behind the scenes helpers were recognized for their efforts, some of who had participated in “Living Stations of the Cross” during their own high school years.
The youth cast, students in grades seven through 12, had rehearsed twice a week since January and delivered six other performances at St. James in Waverly, St. Joseph, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Endicott, and former Blessed Trinity’s Father Bill Moorby’s new church, St. Patrick in Moravia, N.Y. A performance at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel was accomplished via closed circuit television to hospital patient rooms, and another performance at the Owego-Apalachin Middle School brought 350 attendees to their feet giving several standing ovations.
Honoring the tradition of dedicating performances, the youth cast dedicated their performances this year to the homeless, choosing local organizations to donate a portion of offerings received.
