---

Palm Sunday arrives at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Schenectady with thunder, lightning, the voice of God and emotional parishioners.

Every year, the parish's Palm Sunday Masses include more than just the usual lengthy reading of Christ's passion. At the point in the reading when Jesus dies, instead of parishioners simply kneeling for a moment, all the lights in the church go out and the sound of thunder fills the air.

The main crucifix over the altar is spotlighted. Wind from fans behind the altar rustles the shroud draped over the crucifix. An audio track begins, sounding as if Jesus is saying from the cross, "You have abandoned me."

The presentation lasts for several minutes. Later, during the meditation period after communion, a painting of Christ by Thomas Blackshear called "The Forgiven" is projected. The image depicts Jesus cradling a man in modern dress who's holding a hammer, symbolizing Christ forgiving all those who crucified Him.

Emotional moment
Lifelong parishioner Toni Renna said she always cries.

"It's the most profound thing," she told The Evangelist. "It gets you thinking about what Jesus really went through for us."

She's far from the only one. "From the first moment I saw it, I couldn't believe it," said Rev. Robert Hohenstein, pastor. "It's very moving and very meaningful. I wish everybody in the Diocese could come."

The unusual Palm Sunday tradition comes courtesy of the Grieco family, who originally attended Father Hohenstein's former parish, Our Lady Help of Christians in Albany. Joe Grieco created the presentation there 22 years ago. Mr. Grieco says he was inspired by God. "I had nothing to do with it," he insisted.

How it began
In 1992, when his father was dying of colon cancer, Mr. Grieco said that "Jesus laid on my heart that He wants more, when He dies on the cross, than just this pause" in the reading of the passion. The devout Catholic even dreamed that Jesus spoke to him.

Because of his father's illness, Mr. Grieco didn't think the idea would come to fruition - and he wasn't sure Father Hohenstein would like it, either. But when the pastor heard about it, he was all for it.

Mr. Grieco, who's a taxidermist by trade, took a year to create the presentation. He used songs from Christian musician Dallas Holm's 1979 album, "His Last Days," for the soundtrack.

One song, "What Kind of Man is This?," reminds people of their own role in Christ's death: "I'm the one who made Him go to Calvary;/I'm the one who nailed Him to the tree!/Even though I am the one who brought all this on Him,/He's the one who tells me He forgives me!"

Mr. Grieco's brother used an electronic keyboard to create the thunder-and-lightning sounds. The family rents equipment each year from the West Albany Stage Lighting Company; at Our Lady Help of Christians, they covered the $300 cost themselves, although Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish is able to provide financial support.

OLHC to OLMC
When Our Lady Help of Christians closed in 2002, the Griecos approached other parishes to offer the presentation. Father Hohenstein, at his new assignment, took them up on it.

"This is the only place we do it," the pastor boasted. "I didn't know how it would go up here, but people leave here in tears because they are so moved."

Mr. Grieco recalled the first Palm Sunday presentation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel: "The people flipped out. They went running back into the sacristy, saying, 'Father, if I knew you were going to do this, I wouldn't have worn all this makeup!'"

Mr. Grieco says he has a hard time talking to people after Palm Sunday Masses, because he's always choked up, as well: "I'm crying through the whole thing every year. I can't control myself."

Even Father Hohenstein, who's presided at Palm Sunday liturgies for 47 years, said it has an impact on him. He, too, believes it's not enough to just kneel for a moment during the reading of the passion narrative to mark Jesus' death.

"What is the impact [of that]?" he remarked. On the other hand, the amped-up Palm Sunday presentation shows "the significance of the Lord's death and, really, what that should mean for us."

Back for more
Although Mr. Grieco said he "tweaks" the soundtrack and lighting every year, the presentation hasn't changed a great deal in two decades. Still, said Mrs. Renna, "You think you've done it once; you've seen it; it's enough - but it's not. Every time, it's different. All your emotions are awakened."

Parishioner Jeane Marchitto knows other Mass-goers are affected by reflecting on the cross and hearing Jesus' voice on the soundtrack say things like, "Where are my friends? Where are my brothers? Wasn't I always with you?" But she never notices: "I'm usually engrossed [with] what's on the altar. I'm speechless."

Father Hohenstein said he's asked by parishioners every year, "Are the Griecos coming?" Some of those parishioners told The Evangelist they're worried that, after their pastor's retirement, the Palm Sunday tradition may not continue at Our Lady Help of Christians. Even Catholics from elsewhere come to the parish for Palm Sunday.

Mrs. Renna said she'd turned down her children's invitation to visit them out of state for Easter: "I said, 'I can't! I don't want to miss my services!'" [[In-content Ad]]

---