"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

An important part of our Catholic tradition is the prayerful participation in the Stations of the Cross.

This tradition goes back to the late 4th century. Followers of Jesus from around the world would make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to experience the land where Jesus lived and ministered. In 335 after St. Helen discovered the site of the Crucifixion, the Emperor Constantine built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Calvary over the tomb of Jesus. It became customary to travel the "Via Dolorosa" from the Fortress Antonia, where Pilate condemed Jesus to death to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Stations developed along the Via Dolorosa where people would stop and remember Jesus' passion.

The Muslim conquest of the Holy Land during the 7th century Crusades, made Pilgrimage to the Via Dolorosa just about impossible. Shrines were established in European churches so that Christians could still follow the footsteps of Jesus and prayerfully remember His passion.

This tradition continues to this day and here at Holy Family ~ St. Thomas Aquinas Parish we are doubly blessed. We have a tradition of a Cluster Good Friday procession through the streets.

Our parishioner and local artist, SUZANNE KENT has donated her time and talent and restored the vibrant colors of the St. Thomas Aquinas Stations of the Cross ~ I'm certain that you will agree that Suzanne has done a FANTASTIC transformation !!

Click here for more information regarding Suzanne's outstanding work!

Additionally, we are now providing, through the images of our church's Stations of the Cross an opportunity for you to participate in our "cyber" Stations of the Cross.

JOIN US IN PRAYER!

(click on images to view a larger picture!)

STATION 1

~JESUS IS
SENTENCED TO DEATH ~

.

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #2
~ JESUS RECEIVES HIS CROSS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #3
~ JESUS FALLS
FOR THE FIRST TIME ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #4
~ JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #5
~ SIMON HELPS JESUS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATIONS #6
~VERONICA WIPES JESUS' FACE~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #7
~ JESUS FALLS
FOR THE SECOND TIME ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #8
~ JESUS MEETS
THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #9
~ JESUS FALLS
FOR THE THIRD TIME ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #10
~ JESUS IS STRIPPED
OF HIS GARMENTS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #11
~ JESUS IS
NAILED TO THE CROSS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #12
~ JESUS DIES
ON THE CROSS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #13
~ JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN
FROM THE CROSS ~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

STATION #14
~ JESUS IS
LAID IN THE TOMB~

"We adore you O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world."

"Te adoramos, O Cristo, y te bendecimos,
ya que por tu santa cruz has redimido al mundo."

JESUS REMEMBER ME
WHEN YOU COME
INTO YOUR KINGDOM!