St. Kilian Church prays Living Stations on Good Friday

March 29, 2024 Last Updated: April 01, 2024 11:39 AM Local News

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is nailed to the cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

On Friday, March 29, 2024, St. Kilian Church in Cranberry Township hosted a Good Friday staging of the Living Stations.

The Living Stations of the Cross, also known as the Via Crucis, is a prayer that re-enacts Jesus’ walk to Calvary. This year marked the 41st time St. Kilian Church has performed the prayer.

Students in fifth through 12th grades started preparing for the performative prayer early in January.

The prayer enactment consists of 14 stations of the cross and five precincts, which start at Palm Sunday and end with resurrection.

The prayer gives the members of the parish a deeper understanding of what Jesus went through leading up to his execution and his eventual rise from the grave.

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, takes his last breath on the cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

The Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry ends with all of the cast encircling the cross on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Veronica, portrayed by Gianna Campagna, wipes the blood and sweat off Jesus' face, portrayed by Alex Dillon, during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, takes his last breath on the cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is consoling a woman before being crucified during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, carries his cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, falls while carrying his cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is speared during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

A woman in Jerusalem, portrayed by Julia Miller, holds Jesus' hand, who was portrayed by Alex Dillon, during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is beaten before being crucified during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is nailed to the cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, carries his cross during the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Zach Hartle, 13, gets his face tinted by Peggy Harris ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jan Merzlok helps secure Harley Paulowski's veil ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Harley Paulowski, who portrayed Mary Magdalene, admires her veil put on by Jan Merzlok, right, ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Josh Hartle, 11, gets his veil secured by Debbie Combes ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Joey Bowser, 12, gets his arms tinted by Marlene Cranden ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Alex Dillon is turned into Jesus with the help of Jeannie Irwin, left, and Barb Moeller ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, get his costume makeup done by Barb Moeller ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, has his wig put on by Barb Moeller ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, gets stripes painted on his back by Barb Moeller, left, and Jeannie Irwin ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jesus, portrayed by Alex Dillon, is dressed by Barb Moeller ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Josh Hartle, 11, gets his veil secured by Debbie Combes ahead of the Living Stations performance at St. Mark Parish in Cranberry on Friday, March 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle