St. Joan of Arc Stations of the Cross
Published 12:00 am Friday, February 29, 2008
By ROBIN SHANNON
Staff Reporter
GARYVILLE – As a stirring tribute to the reverence held for Jesus Christ, Catholics across the nation often conduct Stations of the Cross ceremonies during the observance of Lent that take participants back to those final days of Jesus’ life.
Eighth grade students at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace recently participated in a living stations event during a Lenten retreat put on by the St. Charles Catholic retreat team. The production, which featured period clothes and costumes, as well as fake blood, was held February 22 at the St Hubert’s Church outdoor prayer walk in Garyville.
Suzanne Cupit, development director for St. Joan of Arc School, explained that part of the retreat is helping the kids understand the challenges they face as they move into their high school years.
“We want to make sure they can spiritually handle these challenges,” said Cupit. “When they get involved in something as moving as a living Stations of the Cross, they get an understanding of the persecution, pain, and suffering that Jesus went through. I think it helps to make their challenges less demanding.”
Cupit explained the St. Joan of Arc Principal Larry Bourgeois choreographs the performance. He selects actors based on physical features that fit the description of the roles. She said two full casts, all of which are eighth graders, are selected to participate.
Last Friday’s performance was the first of five that the kids will perform. The next two performances are set for Friday, March 7. The first, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., will be at the St. Joan of Arc Gym, located at 412 Fir St. in LaPlace, during the senior social. The second performance, another outdoor affair, will be at 5:30 p.m. at St. Hubert’s Church, located at 176 Anthony F. Monica St. in Garyville.
A fourth performance is scheduled for Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Gym, and is open to the general public. The final performance will be Wednesday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Gym for the seniors of Twin Oaks Nursing Home.
