The Stations of the Cross
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The Stations of the Cross in the sanctuaary were given to the glory of God
by Don and Regina McAlister, in thanksgiving for Sheila and Ian
and in memory of their brother Robert and grandfather Beaton.
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The stations symbolize the PASSION narrative. Christ’s scandalous, violent suffering and death spiked to a wooden cross. I chose a PASSION – death – Exaltation view. That is why station 14 is more colorful and uses symbols of a new coming forth, a kingship. The entire sequences of crosses are symbolic and abstract. The metal abstractions are in keeping with several appointments in the church interior". The stations were designed by William T. Brown, Ph. D., of the Design Department of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University. The Text for each station was written by his wife Virginia. They were set in place on Palm Sunday, 1981.
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| Station One
Christ’s conviction on unclear charges
whether for blasphemy (Teaching of
His divinity) or as a political pretender
(King of the Jews) begins the PASSION
story. That which follows may be
interpreted as a fulfillment of God’s
fore-ordained will. Jesus is seen as a
suffering servant. The station symbolizes
the thorns that will crown Jesus
“Ling of the Jews” signifying the
mockery and contempt of the crowd for
Him during the trial and conviction.
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Station Two
Jesus’ sacrificial death takes place
the same time as that of the
paschal lambs at the temple.
He like the lamb is
being led to slaughter.
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Station Three
Jesus, carrying his own cross, falls.
The cross is angled and a symbolic
figure is humbled under its weight.
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Station Four
The cross and the zoological symbol
for woman are blended into a new
totality. Surely the “virgin daughter
of Zion” in many ways represents
all women.
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Station Five
The cross is now on the back of a
different figure, “Simon of Cyrene”,
symbolizingall men by a simple circle.
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Station Six
The symbol of woman is used again as
“a woman wipes the face of Jesus”.
For as one who was silently suffering sorrow
at the disloyalty of his friends
and rejection by his followers,
it was a woman who showed compassion.
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Station Seven
Mark tells of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross at this point. John suggests Jesus was carrying his own cross but in any event the cross is angled as he falls a second time. Grief and sorrow are expressed symbolically as tears.
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Station Eight
Jesus is surrounded by a group represented by a cluster of circles.
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Station Nine
The cross is angled again as Jesus falls a third time. Jesus is approaching Golgotha (place of the skull), also death is approaching. A stylized skull represents death against a blood-red background. Blood attests to the reality of the coming sacrifice.
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Station Ten
Jesus is whipped, spat upon and jeered by the onlookers. He is ready to be nailed.
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Station Eleven
He is crucified and dies. Blood runs from the nailed areas. A figurative Christ nailed to the cross would have allowed less participation by parishioners to imagine the appearance of Christ at this point. What might have been the most complex station is one of the simplest.
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Station Twelve
The Latin term PASSIO meaning something suffered or undergone is used. Among Christians, the word frequently indicates the suffering of Christ. To many it refers to the entirety of the paschal mystery, which includes the Resurrection and Ascension. The four blue Cantonnee Crosses behind the Latin cross signifies the four wounds in Christ’s limbs. The red letters signifies his wounded wide.
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Station Thirteen
The weeping eye expressing sorrow and grief. But Matthew, Mark, and John all recognize the importance of death for resurrection and ascension. Christ has freely allowed his PASSION for our redemption. The PASSION was the beginning of Christ’s glory, not a death but a beginning.
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Station Fourteen
Jesus’ body is now in the tomb. The next vent is the Resurrection. A glorious kingdom, a new coming forth (Butterfly), the Holy Spirit (Dove) and the Alpha and the Omega emphasize that Christ is risen and reigns forever.
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