St. Thomas Catholic Church youth showcase Stations of the Cross

Whether it’s Easter egg hunts or church on Sunday morning, many people have their way of celebrating the holiday.

Showcasing the Stations of the Cross in a walking path has been a tradition at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church for years.

After a few years on pause due to COVID, it was the children who asked to bring it back.

“The children always inspire us,” Fr. Satish Adhav, pastor of the church, said. “They are our pillars of faith. The children always bring the beauty, and make us more, to think seriously, come closer, participate in it.”

One teen tells us this is his third year participating. This year he took on the role of Jesus, which made the tradition even more meaningful for him. “I mean it gives you a whole new perspective carrying that big, heavy cross, you know, it’s not light and it wasn’t as heavy as what he carried,” said Long Beach High senior, Kyle Huey. “My shoulder still hurts. But it just gives you an idea of the struggles that he went through. It gives me a real unique opportunity to put myself in his shoes and experience the sacrifices that he made for me.”

This tradition is close to the hearts of members at St. Thomas and is a reminder of why they celebrate Good Friday and Easter.

“When we see with our own eyes, we realize that it really happened,” said Fr. Satish Adhav. “And even after watching the children do this, we really feel, ‘Why did Jesus do this for me? I think it inspires people because we have our own crosses in our lives, and it inspires them to keep carrying.”