47th Annual St. Luke Parish Passion Play

By Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

Performances of the St. Luke Parish Passion Play in Southington have begun and will continue during Holy Week through Good Friday. Tickets are available for the remaining performances of the 47th annual production on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. at St. Luke Catholic School, 133 Bristol Street Southington, CT 06489.

This is not just a play. It is a Lenten prayer. It begins in the present and moves back to biblical times.

The presenters are “a community of people from various places, walks of life, and expressions of Christian faith who gather under the auspices of Saint Luke Parish to reenact the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The group seeks to offer a “true and heart-filled prayer to God in thanks for the offering of His Son, as well as the blessing of community through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

The Passion Play is a two-hour performance featuring music, lighting and special effects. The cast is made up of volunteers passionate about portraying the story of Jesus in a unique way. The performance depicts the life, teachings, and miracles of our Lord including His scourging and crucifixion.

While many children have attended the Passion Play, parents should consider the maturity of their child before taking them to the performance. Keep in mind that certain scenes, such as the scourging and crucifixion, may be frightening for some young children. Some families take the children to the hallway for these scenes.

The printed program does not contain any credits but on social media there is a mention of the group’s music director.

This Passion Play is the story of Jesus and it is also the story of His mother, and the pain she endured so her son could save us all. The score includes original songs by the music director and the most moving one of all sung by Mother Mary, “Perfect Little Boy.” There is a live band in the pit seated near a small choir that perform a mix of some classic hymns (“Emmanuel,” “The Lord’s Prayer”) and contemporary Christian (“Jesus, Thank You,” “Don’t Stop Praying.”)

The passion play is a ministry of St. Luke Parish that is solely funded by donations. Attendees may consider making a gift when they place their order and make a cash donation at the conclusion of the performance. All donations go toward lighting, sound equipment, sets and marketing to enhance the production quality.

Father Jim Gregory, Co-Pastor, notes his gratitude to “everyone involved in this prayerful production: producers, writers, directors, administrators, technical staff, ushers, wardrobe/make-up, musicians, choir, and performers.” It clearly takes a village of volunteers to launch the large and impressive project.

If you have questions about the Passion Play, please email

The email for tickets is: passionplay@stlukect.org or passionplay.marketing@gmail.com or call (908) 902-8404.

To obtain free tickets, go to eventbrite.com/e/st-luke-passion-play-2025-tickets-1257168166829

Doors open 60 minutes before the performance. There is general seating on metal folding chairs or on the bleachers along the sides of the gymnasium. I recommend sitting a seat behind the sound board if you can climb the bleachers for the best view of the action in the aisles. You are welcome to bring a chair cushion. The show lasts a bit over 2 hours and ends with a brief prayer.

Bring your whole family to prepare for Easter.