Campus Groups to Offer Valuable Reflections During Lenten Service

Reflecting on his own experience commemorating the Passion of Jesus Christ during Stations of the Cross services, Campus Minister for Music & Liturgy Philip Pereira recently noted his belief that this holy ritual exemplifies two virtues with which Stonehill College community members are well-acquainted: light and hope. 

"Jesus’ death and resurrection are the reason why we do everything we do as Catholics,” he said. “It’s such an important aspect of our faith and Christianity. It’s hard to think of any reason not to commemorate these moments during the Lenten season as we prepare ourselves for the Resurrection.” 

During Campus Ministry’s upcoming Social Justice Stations of the Cross service, Pereira and his colleagues will help students, faculty, staff and friends of the College walk with Jesus from condemnation to crucifixion. This program will take place Friday, April 1, at 4:35 p.m. beginning at the Chapel of Mary.  

Attendees will move across campus as they follow all of Christ’s movements on Good Friday. Along the way, representatives from student groups and college offices will offer contemporary reflections of each station. Their sentiments will not only offer insight into their work at the College but will also relay lessons on social justice.  

“We focus on Catholic social justice teaching in the work we do at Campus Ministry, not only with the Community Engagement Program, but also with the H.O.P.E. Service Immersion Program,” Pereira said. “It’s so much a part of what we do here that it just seemed like a natural fit to highlight during the Stations of the Cross.” 

Among the offices and groups presenting at the service are the Student Government Association, Facilities Management, Campus Police, the Department of Athletics, Students in Action, the LGBTQ+ Task Force, the H.O.P.E. Service Immersion Program, the Community Engagement Program, faculty representatives, and the Senior Leadership team. The Chapel Choir will also perform during the program. 

The event’s organizers hope that those attending will walk away with a new understanding of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. 

“The participants are very creative in how they pull in lessons from the stations,” Pereira notes. “It’s always interesting to see how these groups interpret them. You can see a reflection of who they are and what they do in each of their stations. Many times, they demonstrate a different way of looking at this ritual than we might typically be accustomed to.”  

Though the Stations of the Cross are typically a Christian tradition, Pereira emphasizes that all are welcome to attend. 

“We consider ourselves an interfaith office,” the Campus Ministry staffer said. “We hope that anybody would feel welcome attending this regardless of their faith background and see how the different offices and student groups interpret this tradition.”