Every year on Holy Thursday St. Robert School celebrates with a demonstration of the stations of the cross in a very unique way. The Stations are performed by the 8th graders, and they spend a significant amount of time preparing for this performance. The tradition is a live reenactment of the stations of the cross, and it is meant to help the school community understand the pain and suffering that Jesus went through in order to save all humanity from sins and deliver them into salvation.
Ms. Mathews, a middle school teacher at St. Robert is in charge of putting the whole event together, “the tradition started when I was 8th grade, ” Mathews states. Mathews, a graduate of St. Robert, became a teacher at the school and has helped to ensure the continuation of the special tradition. The Stations of the Cross are made up of 14 stations, which outline the events Jesus’ experiences leading up to and after his crucifixion. The Station that takes the most time to practice is the 14th station where Jesus is risen from the tomb, because it requires the actors to actually pick up Jesus and carry him into a fake tomb.
The 8th graders’ performance was so moving that some teachers at St. Robert said that they have even started to tear up during the celebration. Since the 8th grade actors don’t talk while the performance is happening, there are readers which bring their movements to life when everybody is quiet, allowing prayer and reflection to happen
Another big part of the celebration is the music. Ms. Rohde, the music teacher at St. Robert states, “I think the choir and the instruments bring the tradition to life.” Rohde works with the band teacher, Dr. Corley, to guide the student musicians and plan music that will help make the tradition really sentimental.
The Stations of the Cross only happen once a year at St. Robert School, but it is always a big part of the school community as this tradition helps the school celebrate Lent. The Lenten season is when Catholics prepare for Christ’s sacrifice and then resurrection. They work to make sacrifices, prayer, and alms-giving in order to draw themselves closer to Christ. Lent culminates in Holy Week, including Holy Thursday, when St. Robert hosts the Stations of the Cross. .
The tradition is one of the biggest at St. Robert school, and it truly shows how the school shows how they celebrate their faith. The stations of the cross only happen once a year at St. Robert School, but it is always a big part of the school community. It is a very sentimental but religious celebration, and is something that 8th graduates remember for a long time.
