Bringing the Passion to Southeast Fresno
If you wandered by Saint Anthony Mary Claret Church this Good Friday, you’d have seen something more intense than your average Easter egg hunt. Dozens of people—kids, parents, grandparents—gathered in Southeast Fresno, but not just to mark a holiday. They came to walk the Stations of the Cross, a Good Friday tradition that lays out the heartbreak and hope at the core of Christianity.
The church’s grounds transformed into a living stage, with volunteers recreating pivotal moments from Jesus’ journey to the crucifixion. This wasn’t a quick, polished play. It was raw, emotional, and pointedly done in Spanish, connecting directly to Fresno’s thriving Hispanic community. The actor leading the guards—Emanuel Carlos—didn’t just play his part. His goal was to capture, in his words, “that powerful feeling, everything that Jesus suffered for us, to save our lives.”
Passing Down Faith and Facing Real-World Struggles
Martha Garcia knows why this reenactment matters. For the past three years, she’s brought her kids to experience it up close. She’s seen how easy it can be for traditions to fade and for the deeper meaning behind holidays to get lost in the shuffle. “With generations, this isn’t keeping on,” she said. For her, making sure her children grasp the story’s message—sacrifice and resurrection—is a mission.
The event’s emotional punch is clear. Scenes like Jesus meeting his mother, Veronica wiping his battered face, and the moment of crucifixion aren’t just dramatic—their pain and hope echo everyday struggles. Many who fill out the audience are day laborers. For some, showing up for this Stations of the Cross walk means giving up a day’s pay. That’s a real sacrifice, and it ties their lives to the story playing out just a few feet away.
What’s striking is how much this tradition isn’t just about reenacting an old story. It’s about sharing faith, giving people a place to reflect, and making sure the next generation understands what this season is really about. Fresno's Hispanic families don’t just spectate—they see their own challenges in Christ’s journey, making these hours more than a performance. For them, it’s a way to stay rooted, even when life gets tough.