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Ursuline students present Stations of Mercy
Ursuline students show interest in social justice with
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The student liturgy committee at Ursuline High School took its cue from Pope Francis in selecting which Stations of the Cross the student body would pray during Holy Week.
The 30-member committee decided on Stations of Mercy, reflecting the pope’s designation of the Year of Mercy being observed in the Roman Catholic Church from Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20. 2016. Pope Francis promotes love, kindness and generosity during this time of focusing on forgiveness and healing by practicing spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
In many churches today, Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross will be prayed. The devotions focus on Christ’s last day.
The Rev. Richard Murphy, UHS president, led the devotion Wednesday. “This is Pope Francis’ call to be a minister of mercy because this is really not a kind world,” Father Murphy said.
Linda Miller, liturgy coordinator and religion teacher, said the Stations of Mercy were written by Bill Huebsch, author and theologian; she adapted the script for use at the high school level. Father Murphy read a quote from Pope Francis at each station, then the student body recited a short prayer relating to the pontiff’s message.
Miller said over the years students have presented various styles of stations including mime and contemporary. “I hope participation deepens their involvement with God. They value faith,” she said. “When they go forth from here, they take the light with them.”
The Stations of Mercy relate to spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The spiritual includes stating one’s beliefs, sharing faith, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, bearing injustices and praying the for living and dead. Corporal works of mercy are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and prisoners, burying the dead and giving alms to the poor.
The 14 Stations of the Cross include these events: Jesus’ condemnation, carrying the cross, meeting his mother, falling three times, being stripped of His garments, being nailed to the cross, death and burial. Stations of Mercy use those events to suggest how people should react and respond according to Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy.
For example, the first station set the tone by getting to the heart of the matter with the call to help the poor in spite of our own selfish tendencies. “To engage in the works of mercy that can heal the world” was a suggestion in the prayer. Jesus takes up his cross in the second station, and Father Murphy conveyed that the pope asks everyone “to take concrete action on behalf of those who suffer and are vulnerable.”
Jesus’ three falls were likened to people’s life’s struggles and sinfulness, failure and humanity’s dark days. Love and hope are qualities that will help us move forward in a positive way and God is there for us, the program conveyed.
When Jesus is stripped of his garments in the 10th station, it shows how the world degrades human dignity. The challenge is to overcome evil with good. In the 13th station, Jesus is taken down from the cross. The pope said this might be seen as a failure, but Jesus triumphed at the resurrection. Father Murphy urged students not to be derailed by upsets.
Madison Stonebruner, a junior, was a reader in the program. “It’s a real opportunity to apply what’s in the Gospel,” she said about the pope’s directives in the Year of Mercy.
Sophomore John Michael Banuelos played Jesus. “It’s an honor to do. I think it helped me grow and connect with Jesus by interpreting His pain and suffering. I hope people understand the message of the pope about mercy.”
Stephen Listisen, senior, also was a reader. “Here at Ursuline, we have learned values and virtues. Now we have to take that into our communities,” he said. A member of Students of Stewardship, he is taking a mission trip to Nicaragua to build houses.
El Fuego choir, “the fire” in Spanish, also performed. Joan Williams is speech and theater director.