Pilsen's 2021 Stations of The Cross Put Together in Three Days

CHICAGO— For 44 years, volunteers from Pilsen's St. Procopius Church have been reenacting the Station's of the Cross, known as Via Crucis, on Good Friday. The event normally draws thousands and takes over a month of planning. This year, it was prepared and practiced in just three days.

The tradition follows a procession route that reflects the Living Stations of the Cross, which are scenes from the events leading up to Jesus's Crucifixion.

Nellie Quintana has been involved in the Via Crucis since she was ten years old. Now, she's the leader of the group that's tasked with putting it on. A week ago, Quintana wasn't sure the event would happen.

"I was getting texts from past volunteers asking what was going to happen and I kept saying, 'Hold on!' because we didn't have city permits or permission from the Archdiocese," Quintana said. "Finally on Sunday night I called them all and said, 'We're going to do it.' and we've practiced every day since."

The event will be much smaller than it has been in past years and those who want to watch are strongly encouraged to tune into the live stream at 8:30 a.m. Friday on St. Procopius's YouTube channel or the event's FaceBook page. The cast will only be about 30 people and multiple members will play the same role.

If residents would like to take part in the festivities, they may join the group at the soccer field of St. Procopius Church on 16th Street and Racine Avenue for the reenactment of the Crucifixion and a prayer.

Quintana said the past year has drawn many parallels for the entire reenactment team.

"Participants are so passionate about it and we feel that we need to come together and put it on for the community, even if one or five people show up," said Quintana. "Jesus and his apostles back in the day were persecuted for spreading the word of God and today we see a lot of bars and restaurants allowed to open to audiences but at the Church we don't want to take that risk."