Assumption Church Reenacts 'Passion of Christ'

Father Vincent Druding acknowledged that he had some big shoes to fill Friday.

For the second year in a row, Druding took on the role of Jesus for the Assumption Church's 11th annual live re-enactment of the 'Stations of the Church' at Depew Park in Peekskill

Druding, parochial vicar of the church, said he practiced with his parishioners regularly in preparation for the role. But there were somethings, like part where he had to walk around Depew Park with a slab of wood on his back, that Druding ackowledged he did on the fly.

"I'd say it weight anywhere from 60 to 70 pounds," Druding said. "I didn't really prepare that. I run...but that was the extent." 

More than 1,000 parishioners of Assumption Church watched Jesus' walk to the Calvary on Good Friday. About 50 to 75 parishioners joined Druding in costume for the ceremony, which was done all in Spanish.

Also, known as the Way of the Cross, this ancient devotion is practiced especially during Lent as a means of recreating the last hours of Jesus’ walk to Calvary and His crucifixion.

"We want to accompany Jesus, not only in his life, but also in his resurrection," Father John Higgins of Assumption Church said about the event. "He's the one that give us life everlasting and we unit ourselves with his suffering so we can be reunited in his ressurection."

Click through the photos above to view the reenactment. Please feel free to upload your own photos from the event.