Good Friday · Allison Hill
The Way of the Cross Vía Crucis Viviente
Every Good Friday for over a decade, parishioners of St. Francis act out the 14 Stations of the Cross through the streets of Allison Hill — in English and in Spanish, with the whole neighborhood walking alongside.
The Vía Crucis Viviente — the Living Way of the Cross — is one of the great Good Friday traditions of St. Francis. Parishioners take on the parts of Jesus, Mary, Simon, Veronica, the soldiers, and the women of Jerusalem, and we walk the fourteen stations together, in English and in Spanish, through the streets of Allison Hill.
Neighbors come out onto their porches. Cars stop. Children carry the cross. We pause at every corner to read the station, pray together, and sing. It is a quiet, public act of love for our neighborhood — and an invitation to anyone who wants to walk with us.
Walk with us. Camine con nosotros.
Watch the procession
Filmed on Good Friday as the procession moves through the streets of Allison Hill.
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Station 1
Jesus is condemned to death Jesús es condenado a muerte
Pilate stands on the balcony. The neighborhood watches him decide.
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Station 2
Jesus carries his cross Jesús carga la cruz
Down Market Street. The cross moves, and the neighborhood walks with it.
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Station 3
Jesus falls the first time Jesús cae por primera vez
He kneels in the courtyard. The first fall, before the first step away.
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Station 4
Jesus meets his mother Jesús encuentra a su madre
María kisses the face of her Son. Nothing else needs to be said.
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Station 5
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross Simón de Cirene ayuda a Jesús a cargar la cruz
The cross is heavy. The crown is real. He keeps going.
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Station 6
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus Verónica limpia el rostro de Jesús
Verónica steps out from the crowd. The veil is white. She comes anyway.
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Station 7
Jesus falls the second time Jesús cae por segunda vez
The procession pauses. The prayers are read again, in two languages.
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Station 8
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem Jesús encuentra a las mujeres de Jerusalén
The women of Allison Hill take their place. They have always known how to mourn.
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Station 9
Jesus falls the third time Jesús cae por tercera vez
The children walk too. They will remember this when they are grown.
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Station 10
Jesus is stripped of his garments Jesús es despojado de sus vestiduras
Three soldiers around the stump. The cloak comes off in their hands.
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Station 11
Jesus is nailed to the cross Jesús es clavado en la cruz
His Mother does not look. She can hear it.
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Station 12
Jesus dies on the cross Jesús muere en la cruz
At the foot of the cross — His Mother. The wood is real. The grief is real.
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Station 13
Jesus is taken down from the cross Jesús es bajado de la cruz
Two women hold each other up. The cross is empty now.
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Station 14
Jesus is laid in the tomb Jesús es puesto en el sepulcro
Laid in the tomb. Saturday's silence begins.
"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world." "Te adoramos, Cristo, y te bendecimos, que por tu santa cruz redimiste al mundo."