ROGERS — Parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers began their Lenten journey this year, as in years past, with the ancient practice of walking the road to Calvary, or the Stations of the Cross. This year they prayed before new figural stations.
The stations, each cast, custom-painted and shipped from Italy were installed and consecrated in a bilingual Mass Friday, March 7. The first Stations of the Cross of the Lenten season followed the Mass, featuring the new artwork mounted to the concrete pillars surrounding the back of the worship space.
Previously the church’s stations consisted of 14 intricately carved crosses from the Ukraine that the late Deacon Bill Cook found while traveling there. Since the church was built in 2003, many parishioners longed for more traditional stations. The new stations, made of resin and wood and hand-painted to illustrate the story of Jesus’ passion, hang on every other pillar not containing one of the hand-carved crosses.
Devotions to this practice of commemorating 14 pivotal moments in Jesus’ “Way of the Cross” dates back as early as the 14th century when pilgrims, unable to journey to Jerusalem, erected depictions of Christ’s journey to Calvary both in and outside of churches for the faithful to prayerfully follow.
“This is the first time I have seen and taken part in a consecration or an ‘Erection of the Stations,’” Msgr. David LeSieur, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church, said. “Although the crosses are beautiful, a lot of people have always wanted more of a depiction of the stations in our church.”
“People wanted artwork that illustrated Christ’s walk through Jerusalem,” said Judene Kuszak, director of religious education. “Our Liturgy and Worship Commission looked at many different options in the past couple of years, narrowed it down to three possibilities and presented their top choice to Msgr. LeSieur.”
Finding the right stations for a worship space surrounded by glass, concrete pillars and little wall space proved to be a challenge. The Liturgy and Worship Commission found Demetz Art Studio, a fourth-generation company famous for its ecclesiastical art and wood carvings, in Ortisei, Italy. The studio, renowned for their figurative artwork for religious institutions worldwide, was responsible for and commended by Pope John Paul II for their work of the largest risen Christ carved in wood in the world for the Basilica of Don Bosco near Turin, Italy.
After collaborating on the church configuration, Demetz cast stations to the dimensions necessary to fit the concrete pillars. The stations, costing $11,200, were ordered over a year ago; it took eight months to cast, set and paint all 14 stations. Although the crate arrived from Italy in Rogers in late August, the parish staff waited to debut them at Lent because a Mass of Holy Consecration to bless them is necessary before the stations can be prayed.
John Carney, one of the 16 servers helping minister in the Mass on Friday evening, believes the procession serves a purpose for not only following the final walk of Jesus but for building up the faithful of the parish.
“It helps create a sense of community,” Carney said of the devotion to the Stations of the Cross. “There were different people all along the path Christ followed, and I think that signifies how we as a Catholic community also walk with Jesus.”
Betty Leis, wife of Deacon Clarence Leis, parishioners for the past 50 years, was very emotional following the Mass consecrating the new artwork.
“It was a beautiful service. It meant so much and was very moving to me to know that we can go anytime to pray the stations and to participate in our Lord’s passion,” she said. “This is part of being Catholic.”
“It is perfect timing to be adding these beautiful stations to our worship space during the time of Lent,” said Kathleen Reed, member of the Liturgy and Worship Commission. “It is my hope our parishioners will take the time to reflect on the beauty of the pieces of art while being mindful of the love and pain that they represent.”