Way of the Cross,
Way of Justice
Diocesan Stations
of the Cross

For several years on the Friday before Holy Week people from all over the diocese of Santa Rosa have gathered in Santa Rosa de Copán for a stations of the cross through the streets of Santa Rosa.

Most of those who come are from the widely scattered rural parishes, arriving in buses or pick up trucks. For some it is a long ride, four hours or more. But this year 3000 or more came.

The stations are decidedly oriented toward the justice demands of the Gospel and the stages on Christ’s road from Pilate’s condemnation to Calvary – and to the resurrection – are prayed with an eye on the challenges the people of God face here in western Honduras.

This year they used the challenges discussed at the diocesan assembly last November which included institutionalized corruption, organized crime, lack of authentic leaders, political sectarianism and fanaticism, political participation, migration, cultural invasion, abandonment of the land, secularization, squandering of money on political campaigns, selling out by the means of communication.

The day was sunny and very hot as we moved through the streets, starting at the base of a hill in town and ending at the cathedral. But the people followed the statues of Christ carrying the Cross and Mary, the sorrowful mother, with devotion. At each station a different meditation was led by priests and people from different parishes in the diocese. Twice there were skits to explain the challenges to living as faithful people.

Almost all of the priests of the diocese were there and during the stations people approached the priests and made their confessions on the street.

The stations ended with a Mass at the cathedral. Monseñor Luis Alfonso Santos gave a strong – and long - sermon on the 15th station – the Resurrection – related to the sell out of the means of communication. He spoke of how the press has often sold out to the powers of empire – the Spanish, the American, the “international empire of money” (words of Pope Paul VI). He noted how the mining interests have often paid off journalists but the diocesan radio station has sought to speak the truth. For this the lawyer for the local mining company, Yamana Gold, recently sent a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras (the Vatican’s ambassador) with accusations against Fr. Roel Mejia, the director of the radio and an outspoken opponent of the mining’s activities.

At the end of Mass the bishop offered a prayer for the Chortis, an indigenous group who live around the Mayan Ruins near Copán Ruinas. They are sitting in at the ruins and not letting people enter because the government has delayed so long in giving them lands that were promised and only 35% has been distributed. So they felt driven to take the radical step of sitting in.

What strikes me most about this day is the way the people combine a deep, very traditional piety with a deep desire for justice. Although most of the meditations were probably written by the priests, the themes resonated in the hearts of the people, mostly campesinos, country farmers.

For me, though, the two images that most affected me – but I didn’t capture them on film – were the sacramental celebrations.

As I looked on, a man confessed his sins to a young priest. As he gave absolution, the priest placed his hands firmly on the man’s head. You are forgiven, embraced with God's love.

And during Mass the priests walked into the crowd to distribute the Body of Christ. Some received on the tongue, but the most poignant moment for me was seeing people reach out their hands to the priest – often between the bodies of people in front of them, longing to receive the Body of Christ.

God’s call for justice, God’s merciful forgiveness, and Jesus’ loving presence were there today for those who had eyes to see.