STATIONS OF THE CROSS PODCAST

Diocese launches new way to listen and reflect to this important Lenten tradition

We have a new way to experience the Stations of the Cross in the Diocese of Albany this Lenten season courtesy of Bishop Mark O’Connell.

“The Pastoral Center Prays the Stations of the Cross,” a Lenten meditation produced by the Diocese of Albany’s Communications Department, was released as a podcast on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. Using laity to pray the Stations of the Cross is something that Bishop Mark had done previously when he was pastor in the Archdiocese of Boston and decided to bring it here. Kathy Barrans, communications director, compiled the audio of 15 different Pastoral Center employees offering reflections on each station. There is also an 18-page booklet to follow along.

“When I was a pastor, I did it with parishioners,” Bishop Mark told Barrans on her ‘Called to Serve’ podcast, which is where you can hear the Stations of the Cross podcast on its own dedicated webpage: www.rcda.org/stations-cross-podcast.

“It’s important for people to hear lay people preaching when they can. With the church, lay people don’t preach at Mass. Sometimes they give talks at other times in the Mass, but they don’t give the homily. That’s the gift of the priest and the deacon, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be preaching. They should be.

“So, to empower our lay people to give a little reflection from their faith is important to me. They sometimes come up with things I never would have thought of, so it’s important for me spiritually, too. I love to create moments where people beyond the priests and deacons are preaching.”

Bishop Mark hopes the podcast will light a “spark” in the faithful as well.

“The Stations of the Cross is such an important element for our Lenten observance. I always like to hear unique reflections on that because sometimes they can get routine,” he added. “I bet there are ideas that come through this listening that will spark something new within the people who listen.”

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. There are 14 Stations that each depict a moment on his journey to Calvary, usually through sacred art, prayers and reflections. The practice began as pious pilgrims traced his path through Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa. 

“Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the 14 Stations currently found in almost every church throughout the world. Similarly, the 150 Hail Marys that were recited for the rosary were an adaptation of the medieval monastic practice of reciting the 150 psalms in the Psalter.” 

Barrans added you can listen to the Stations podcast just about anywhere.

“This is being created so if you are in a church or chapel with Stations, you can listen and walk them if you don’t have an organized Stations of the Cross,” she said. “You can also listen in your car, you can listen at home. Just take the time to be quiet and listen to God and let him speak to your heart through it.”

One thing you will notice is that there are 15 Stations of the Cross for this reflection. The Fifteenth Station, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus, is widely attributed to Pope St. John Paul II.

The Stations of the Cross podcast reflections are offered by: First Station (Jesus is condemned to death), Jo-Ann Garrison, secretary and bookkeeper for the Office for Discipleship Formation; Second Station (Jesus carries the Cross), Chris Campbell, pension manager for the Priest and Lay Retirement Plans; Third Station (Jesus falls for the First time), Chris Bott, Superintendent of Schools; Fourth Station (Jesus meets his Mother), Bonni Shippee, Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer; Fifth Station (Simon helps Jesus carry the Cross), Michelle Schulmerich, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Chancery.

Sixth Station (Veronica wipes the face of Jesus), Brigid Beck, Communications Specialist; Seventh Station (Jesus falls for a second time), Anne Frame, Assistant to Bishop Mark; Eighth Station (Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem), Mary Fay, Associate Director for Marriage and Family Life Ministries, Pastoral Care and Respect Life Ministries; Ninth Station (Jesus falls for the third time), David Amico, Director for the Office of Discipleship Formation.

Tenth Station (Jesus is stripped of his garments), Erin Muir, Associate Director for the Office for Discipleship Formation; Eleventh Station (Jesus is nailed to the Cross), Pam Danz, Director of Human Resources; Twelfth Station (Jesus dies on the Cross), Father Bob Longobucco, Vicar General; Thirteenth Station (Jesus is taken down from the Cross), Yvonne Leo, Secretary in the Tribunal; Fourteenth Station (Jesus is laid in the tomb), Nancy Styczynski, Accounting Assistant; Fifteenth Station (Jesus is raised from the dead), Sister Teresa Grace Baillargeon, CR, Parish Bookkeeping Support Specialist.