By Suzette Fuentes - St. Theresa School (Little Flower)
Photographer: COURTESY
Third grader Valentina Martinez represents the 13th Station of the Cross during St. Theresa's 2021 COVID-friendly continuation of the Living Stations of the Cross tradition.
CORAL GABLES | For nearly two decades, third graders at St. Theresa School have amplified the depth and sacrifice of Jesus Christ by creating an annual Living Stations of the Cross. Not allowing COVID to derail this treasured tradition, teachers, sisters, parents and students got creative for Holy Week 2021, transforming the Living Stations into a one-of-a-kind video event.
Led by religion teacher Sister Lucia, of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, third grade aide Shellee Ballestas, and Eileen Marti, religion coordinator for the school, the 2021 Living Stations brought together talent from across several grades like never before.
Third graders led the school and families through the stations by reading meaningful reflections from the altar at the Church of the Little Flower, and holding homemade signs representing each station.
Fifth graders also got into the mix for the first time. Archived video footage from the current fifth grade class, the last group to be able to present the stations live since the onset of the pandemic, brought the story of Jesus' death and resurrection to life in a dramatic and meaningful way.
The Honors Choir, lead by Dawn Fontana and Rosa Fiol, sang beautiful Lenten hymns between the Stations that added to this inspirational prayer experience. And, in the grand finale, third graders held homemade posters expressing their love for Jesus and community while singing prayerful hymns.
Tying it all together, seventh graders, the buddy class to third grade, recorded the footage and edited it for posting on YouTube.
The St. Theresa 2021 Living Stations of the Cross was surely the most unique version of this school tradition but also one that could be, for once, shared widely via video.
"We are so proud of the children and everyone who worked creatively and safely to share this glorious moment with the St. Theresa family despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. We were happy that our students were able to work together to help all of us experience more deeply the Easter glory that is the culmination of the Holy Week experience," said Sister Lucia.
Photographer: COURTESY
St. Theresa third graders, joined by the school's Honor Choir, conclude the annual Living Stations of the Cross safely and with love in 2021.
