Posted April 21, 2014

Annunciation B.V.M. Parish in South Philadelphia commemorated the passion and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, April 18, with a procession and reenactment through the streets of the neighborhood. The reenactment was spoken entirely in Spanish and volunteers from the community acted out the roles. The procession began in front of the church then processed a dozen blocks while stopping at each station for prayer, then ended with the final station on the steps of the church at 10th and Dickinson Streets. Watch a video here. (Photos and video by Sarah Webb)

  • Jesus is laid in the tomb.

  • Jesus dies on the cross.

  • The community gathers around the solemn scene depicting Jesus, portrayed by Jose Miguel Almaras, dying on the cross. Redemptorist Father Bruce Lewandowski incenses the scene at left.

  • Jesus is nailed to the cross.

  • Jesus is stripped of his clothes.

  • A crowd watches the Living Stations of the Cross devotion on the Annunciation Church steps.

  • The women of Jerusalem (portrayed by parishioners) weep for Jesus.

  • Crowds fill the streets of South Philadelphia for the Living Stations of the Cross.

  • Jesus carries his cross.

  • Carlos Delsalanos, portraying a Roman soldier, carries a placard reminding the audience of the ninth station of the cross during the devotional reenactment.

  • Simon of Cyrene (portrayed by Oscar Ruano) helps Jesus (Jose Miguel Almaras) carry his cross.

  • Jesus meets his mother (portrayed by Magdelena Morales).

  • From left, Magdelena Morales, Felicitas Morales and Oscar Ruano participate in the living stations.

  • Jesus falls for the second time.

  • Jesus (Jose Miguel Almaras) carries his cross on the street past Annunciation Church.