‘Very meaningful’: St. George Christians celebrate Easter season with interfaith Way of the Cross

Written by Mori Kessler
April 8, 2023

ST. GEORGE — A large crowd of the area’s Christian faithful gathered at Sandtown Park in St. George late Friday morning to participate in the annual ecumenical Way of the Cross.

Jeff Matthews (right), a member of the Shepherd of the Hills congregation, portrays the part of Jesus Christ as he carries the cross during the 17th annual Ecumenical Way of the Cross in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Held on Good Friday – the Christian tradition that observes the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion – the Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross, gives believers the opportunity to mirror the path Christ took through Jerusalem on his journey to the cross over 2,000 years ago.

The crucifixion is commemorated by Christians as it paves the way for Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection, celebrated on Easter Sunday, is a focal point of Christian belief as it is the means by which Christ provided humanity with redemption from death and sin.

While primarily observed by the Roman Catholic Church the world over, the Way of the Cross in St. George has been an interfaith tradition for 17 years now. In addition to local Catholics, members of various Christian faiths from the Latter-day Saints to Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists and others, join together to observe one of the pivotal events in biblical history.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to come together with other churches and other people of faith in this community, and we believe that was the ministry of Jesus — he brought us all together in a spirit of community and here’s an opportunity to be witness to that,” said Rev. Joyce DeToni-Hill, co-pastor at the Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church.

DeToni-Hill and others had just concluded the near-mile walk from Sandtown Park to the St. George Catholic Church by the time she spoke with St. George News.

During the 17th annual Ecumenical Way of the Cross in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Taking a path down Diagonal Street and then went down 200 West toward the church, the profession of believers paused at 14 separate stations along the way before reaching the final stop at the Catholic church. At each station a monologue was given about a particular point in Christ’s path to his crucifixion, followed by a short prayer.

Eleven of the 15 station presentations were given by ministers of different churches from the St. George Interfaith Council. These ministers, and members of their congregations, also took turns carrying the cross between stations. This was something DeToni-Hill said she considered unique when compared to other Good Friday events she has participated in.

“The difference I have seen here is that different representatives from different faith communities helped carry the cross from station to station,” she said. “I think that is a beautiful experience.”

Among those who carried the cross was Jeff Matthews, a member of the Shepherd of the Hills congregation who happened to play the part of Christ in a retelling of the Last Supper the night before. Taking the cross, Matthews was overcome with emotion as he shared his thoughts on being able to portray Christ, albeit for a short time, during the Way of the Cross.

During the 17th annual Ecumenical Way of the Cross in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

“Very meaningful,” Matthews said in a quiet voice that was nearly overwhelmed by the bustle around him. “I haven’t always been a good person or a believer. It was very meaningful … It was a great event and I’m happy to be here.”

Matthews will be reprising the role of Christ for his church when they retell the story of the stone being rolled away from Christ’s tomb as a sign of the resurrection. He added he believes the time carrying the cross will have been the most difficult part of the experience for him as it represented the pain and suffering Christ endured prior to his resurrection.

“Praise the Lord,” Mary Helen Stricklin, a member of the St. George Catholic Church, said of her own experience that morning.

“We had perfect weather and perfect unity among all the different faiths,” she said. “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ even though we might show differences in worship. People came together to recognize the power in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives us salvation. We all have that in common.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mori Kessler serves as a Senior Reporter for St. George News, having previously contributed as a writer and Interim Editor in 2011-12, and an assistant editor from 2012 to mid-2014. He began writing news as a freelancer in 2009 for Today in Dixie, and joined the writing staff of St. George News in mid-2010. He enjoys photography and won an award for photojournalism from the Society of Professional Journalists for a 2018 photo of a bee inspector removing ferals bees from a Washington City home. He is also a shameless nerd and has a bad sense of direction.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler@STGnews

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