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Franciscans introduce Stations of the Cross written by one of their own

Connor Bergeron | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Fr. Gabriel Amato, director of postulants, and Br. James Puglis kneel in silence during a recitation of Fr. Gilbert Barth’s Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church in Herndon March 24. CONNOR BERGERON | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Br. Zachary Burns reads Scripture accompanied in Fr. Gilbert Barth’s Stations of the Cross. CONNOR BERGERON | CATHOLIC HERALD

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“Jesus, You ended Your way of the Cross as You began it — in
peace,” reads a Stations of the Cross meditation written by Franciscan Father
Gilbert Barth. 

Eight Franciscan seminarians traveled from the St. Louis Friary
in Washington and three postulants came from Loretto, Pa., to kick off their
discernment weekend at St. Joseph Church in Herndon March 24. They joined with Franciscan
friars to eat fried fish with parishioners in the parish hall, and then led attendees
through a Franciscan-flavored Stations of the Cross.

The 14 stations, “The Way of the Cross and Peace Prayer: A Meditation
of the Paschal Mystery,” expand upon the Gospel story of Jesus’ walk to
Calvary. They begin at the Last Supper and end when the Lord appears to His
disciples following the Resurrection.  

“It’s a wider range of emotions of the Passion, encapsulated in one
prayer,” said seminarian Brother Zachary Burns.

During each station, a seminarian read from the Gospel, and a postulant
read a meditation while the friars and attendees knelt in silence. Each station
ended with attendees singing a verse from the song “Make Me a Channel of Your
Peace.” 

Father Benedict Jurchak, director of post-novitiate formation at
the St. Louis Friary, said Father Barth was former superior and novice director
at Sacred Heart Friary (now the San Damiano Retreat Center in White Post) from
1972 to 1978, and was in charge of instructing novices how to pray and “how to be
Franciscans.”

Father Tom Bourque, pastor of St. Joseph, studied under Father
Barth and typed his manuscript of the stations. He said Father Barth did not
intend to replace the traditional Stations of the Cross, but rather unfold the
full drama of Easter.

 

Although some of the stations share scenes with the well-known
Stations of the Cross written by St. Alphonsus Liguori, the vast majority are
different. Some of Father Barth’s stations include Jesus pardoning His crucifiers,
Judas taking his own life, Jesus being blinded and mocked, Jesus entrusting
Mary to the care of His beloved disciple and Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene.

The Franciscan connection to the Stations of the Cross began when
the friars were the custodians of sacred sites of Jerusalem in 1343. There they
encountered the traditional practice of visiting the sites of Christ’s Passion.

“(At times) there were three, four, 14 and 19 stations that
focused on different aspects of the Passion,” said Father Bourque.

The Franciscans developed their own set of stations and the
practice spread to Europe. Pope Innocent XI granted the Franciscans the sole
authority to build stations. In 1731, non-Franciscan churches were allowed to
create stations and the number of stations was set at 14.

CONNOR BERGERON  |  CATHOLIC HERALD

Br. Rufino Corona (left) and Br. Stephen Waruszewski sing “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” during the stations. 

Many early Stations of the Cross differ from contemporary
practice in number and scenes. St. John Paul the Great created his own set,
which contains moments such as Peter’s denial. 

Reflecting on discernment weekend, Father Jurchak said, “I think
it’s great to kick (discernment weekend) off with ministry, and then be with us
to see how we pray and live.”

“It gives an authentic view of what the TORs are all about, which
is bringing the fruits of prayer into ministry,” said Brother Zachary. “At the
same time it’s a great witness for the community. Maybe there’s a kid here who’s
thinking about being a friar.”

Currently, two Franciscan deacons, Brother Jason Wooleyhan and
Brother James Puglis, are serving the parish as they study at Catholic
University in Washington.

“For me (discernment weekend) is always a renewal of my vocation,
because I see young men searching for God’s will,” said Father Jurchak. “Like I
did for so many years before I found it.”

Find our more

To learn about the Franciscan Friar of the Third Order Regular, go to
franciscanstor.org. 

 

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