Angelus News | March 22, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 6

— or Stations of the Cross — procession
in the streets, followed by a
rosary, readings, Gospel dramatizations,
and veneration of the cross at
the church, he said.
Many of those who help stage these
annual productions say they’ve seen
the theatrical works change the lives
— and hearts — of both the actors
and the audience.
Miguel Angel Huerta, for example,
has played Jesus in Christ the King’s
Passion play numerous times since
joining the cast in 2017. To prepare
for the role, he ensures he’s in a state
of grace and prays before the Blessed
Sacrament, improving his personal
and family life in the process.
“My life completely changed,” he
said. “I never thought that I’d be
where I am spiritually.”
Guadalupe Ramirez has served as a
coordinator for St. Emydius’ Passion
play for more than 10 years and said
that doing so has deepened her faith,
introduced her to new ministries, and
brought her a renewed appreciation
for Christ’s death and resurrection.
“I have learned so much by being
part of this,” she said. “We have a tendency
of going to Mass and leaving,
but we don’t know what the Church
offers after that. It’s not only Mass that
the Church is capable of offering us.
There’s so much behind that.”
Escobar said he sees the church’s
annual play as a way to transmit the
Gospel, by showing spectators that
Christ is there to love them and save
them.
“A lot of times people are crying,
they’re relating, the message hits
them,” he said. “And that’s one of the
best feelings, just knowing that we
spread the message.”
For Betancourt, the Via Crucis is also
a form of evangelization. Rather than
performing Stations of the Cross at
the parish, the group stops at various
homes, where families read pre-written
reflections aloud. Many times,
however, they scrap the script when
an actor playing a beleaguered Jesus
arrives at their doorstep.
“The beautiful part about this,” he
said, “is that often when Christ arrives
and falls to his feet at their station, it
touches their heart. Often, what they
had planned to say in their reflection
completely changes because they are
opening their conscience and their
heart. And that is the work of God.”
Many of those involved in bringing
the acts to life say they hope to continue
to do so for years to come.
Burgos said that although many
in her group are now parents or
grandparents, they still feel called to
perform and encourage their families
to join the cast as well. Participating
alongside their offspring has helped
strengthen their faith and give them
the ability to spread the Gospel to a
new generation, she said.
“We realize that God wants us to
continue,” she said. “And as long as
God allows us, we’ll be there.”
Theresa Cisneros is a freelance journalist
with 24 years of experience in
the news industry. She is a fourth-generation
Southern California resident
and lives in Orange County with her
husband and four children.
16 • ANGELUS • March 22, 2024