OKC Stations of the Cross devotional opportunities offered during Lent
Many artists throughout the years have depicted Christ's journey to Calvary in a multitude of ways and the Stations of the Cross at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine are the latest local examples of this tradition.
Such artistic depictions come to the forefront during the Lenten season as Christians participate in the Stations of the Cross or "the way of the cross” devotional practice at their churches. The "stations" depict Jesus' final hours and are represented by a series of scenes created in various mediums, including stone, sculpture, painting, carvings, metal and wood. Often, the faithful in Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran traditions visit each station for devotions and to meditate on Christ's Passion on Fridays during Lent. Some Methodist churches also continue the Lenten tradition.
At the new shrine, 700 SE 89, the stations are a series of hand-painted replicas of the Stations of the Cross paintings from the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Puebla, Mexico. Each frame is topped with a symbol of the pilgrim, which is a shell, along with the St. James cross. The Cathedral Basilica paintings were the work of a renowned 18th-century Oaxacan painter Miguel Cabrera.
In the Catholic tradition, 14 stations depict Christ's journey to the cross, beginning when Jesus is condemned to death and ending with Jesus being laid in the tomb.
Leaders at various churches have said that it takes participants about 25 minutes to complete the devotional series. They may be led by priests, deacons or a lay person, and can be prayed by an individual alone or, as on Fridays during Lent, they can be prayed by groups of the faithful, leaders said.
At St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 14700 N May, a group of "theologians in residence" have been conducting the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent. The Rev. Joseph Alsay, the church's rector, said the church has held two of the events thus far. He said he will lead the brief devotional event on March 17, along with the Rev. Dawn Enderwood, a retired Lutheran minister who has joined St. Augustine. Alsay said church members will host a fish reception afterward.
"Ash Wednesday, we give what's called the 'Lenten mandate,' which is this time in which you focus in on prayer and fasting, almsgiving, reading, studying and meditating on God's word," Alsay said. "One way that people can pray or meditate is by the discipline of coming into the church on a Friday evening and praying the Stations of the Cross."
Several Stations of the Cross activities in the Oklahoma City metro area
● Sacred Heart Church at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, 6:30 p.m. Fridays during Lent, 700 SE 89. Information: www.sacredheartokc.org/ home.
● St. Luke's United Methodist Church-Oklahoma City, 222 NW 15, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., nine Stations of the Cross stations, come-and-go activity. Information: https://stlukesokc.org/event/.
● St. Luke's United Methodist-Edmond, 900 N Sooner Road, Edmond, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 7, Good Friday Stations of the Cross with stations along walking trail, come-and-go activity. Information: https://stlukesokc.org/event/.
● St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 14700 N May, 6 p.m. Fridays during Lent, led by the church's "Theologians in Residence." A fish reception will be hosted by church members about 6:30 p.m. March 17. Information: www.sac-okc.org/.