PILSEN – Lots of of individuals flocked to Pilsen Friday morning for the annual Good Friday custom re-enacting Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.
The procession began on the intersection of 18th and Halsted streets, with scenes from The Final Supper, The Prayer in Gethsemane and Jesus Earlier than Pontius Pilate happening on an outside stage — a departure from its traditional begin within the Windfall of God Church’s basement.
Beginning the procession on an outside stage makes the custom extra accessible and interesting for the neighborhood, By way of Crucis director Nellie Quintana stated.
Actors staged the scenes earlier than marching west on 18th Road, praying for victims of home violence and substance abuse, folks combating injustice and younger folks alongside the best way. Actors re-enacted Jesus Christ’s crucifixion at Harrison Park earlier than heading to St. Pius V Church, the place actors re-enacted the scene of Jesus’ physique being positioned in a tomb.
This yr’s procession included requires solidarity amongst immigrant communities with a nod to the federal authorities’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions.
A number of religion leaders and worshippers carried placards with photos of immigration authorities close to locations like colleges and church buildings, with the message, “What would Jesus do?”
“The essential message, in case you have a look at the images, is that Jesus will surely stand on the aspect of the immigrant and do all that could possibly be carried out to guard the immigrant,” stated Rev. Beth Brown, pastor at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.
Collaborating within the procession is a strategy to declare area, ritual and faith when all of these are being threatened, stated Brown, who joined with a coalition of religion leaders and college students, together with members of the Evanston-based Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Longtime Pilsen neighbor Crystal Hernandez went to 18th Road along with her mom, sister and son to see the procession, which she stated has change into a practice for the household.
“Because the first time we noticed it, we’ve all the time come,” she stated.
Dozens of neighbors, enterprise homeowners and employees watched from their entrance doorways, balconies and home windows whereas tons of fashioned a procession on an unseasonably heat day.
By way of Crucis has been held in Pilsen yearly since 1977. In 2020 and 2021, organizers held the processions just about as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
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