THERE was not much enthusiasm among pedestrians and motorists in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, yesterday as the Holy Cross Catholic Church put on its annual re-enactment of the path travelled by Jesus Christ before his crucifixion, but one could not miss the excitement of two women who left their Good Friday church service midway to experience the moving exercise.

Donna Russell and Princess Champagnie, who took along her grandchildren Tonishae and Jayanna, were disappointed they did not get to Half-Way-Tree in time to witness the start of the re-enactment, but were very happy they got to experience much of the event.

“We came out for this… We cut service short and my grandkids are very excited to see this. It is touching, so I wanted to see it,” said Champagnie, a member of the Praise City Deliverance Centre on Asquith Street in Kingston.

Russell said: “I had to come and see the crucifixion act out so naturally, worse in Jamaica.”

The church sisters and other onlookers were treated to a close-up of what Jesus Christ is believed to have experienced before he was crucified, as a man depicting Jesus — blood streaming down his face and wearing a crown of thorns — struggled along the road with an obviously heavy cross while being whipped by others playing the part of Roman soldiers.

The dramatic exercise, referred to as ‘The Stations of the Cross’, started outside Winchester Business Centre on Hope Road and culminated at the Holy Cross Catholic Church on Half-Way-Tree Road.

The ‘stations’ capture 14 significant moments surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus, including the three falls that he had experienced while carrying the cross; when he met his mother; when he was stripped and beaten; when he was nailed to the cross; and when he died.

The re-enactment, which was first done by the church in 2015, got mixed reviews from other onlookers.

“I think it is a good experience; it refresh memory, so whoever figet — me never figet — but fi who figet,” said Shanice, who was recording the event with her cellphone.

Another passer-by, Eric, who was also happy to see the re-enactment, said: “Is come I come up and buck up inna this. It is a wonderful thing, very touching. I would stand up here all day and watch it.

“I think a lot of people should join them, as it helps us to remember the crucifixion,” he added.

But another man standing nearby, who appeared to be coming from church, was not pleased.

“Me nuh interested. Mi think it is a mockery,” he said. “A yesterday mi a complain ’bout how dem a bring the programme on TV over and over.

“No man can crucify God; dem crucify di man weh name Jesus, but a fraud ting,” said another man who also did not approve.

He was a part of a group of men making light of the exercise.

“See Jesus deh wid di cross,” one said, laughing.

“Weh di criminal deh weh a whip him?” another chimed in.

In the meantime, Father Arokiadas Arumainathan said, in spite of the low interest, it is important for the church to show people what Jesus went through for them on his way to the cross.

“God redeems us in and through the sufferings of Christ,” he said.

Seminarian Joseph Lucas, who played the role of Jesus, said it was something he had looked forward to.

The young priest-in-training, who is originally from Kenya, also had a message for Jamaicans.

“The cross is a sign of hope and our salvation and everything we undergo — the struggles and the challenges — we should remember that someone passed through those things and we can too,” he said.