55 Days to Go!!
So much to write but so very little time to write it!
Part of the areas in the Liturgy Team is the production of the 14 Stations of the Cross (SotC) which will take place on Friday the 18th July in the afternoon. SotC is one of the major public events at past WYDs and this one will be no different. The event will be staged at major landmarks of Sydney, from St Mary's Cathedral to the Art Gallery to the Sydney Opera House. Everyone will have the opportunity to see one station live and watch the rest on the screens where they stand (it would obviously be impossible to move 225000 people through the city). This will be one of the events that will really captivate the everyday Sydney-sider and be very moving. For those who don't know SotC is a very old catholic devotion that follows in 14 steps the suffering and death of Christ.
So I decided one night last week to wander over to the location where the rehearsals are taking place. A cast of about 80 has been selected from the auditions of hundreds and for those of you who recall, the media followed the casting quite closely and highlighted the eventual choices fo Jesus and Mary, two young Sydney Catholics as seen in the photo.
The rehearsal was really good to see as I have had little to do with the stations of the cross. Fr Franco Cavarra is the director and he hails from a very long career in opera direction before he entered the seminary some years back. The rehearsal goes through each station from 1 to 14 and their movements are shaped and stylised to bring about something that is really beautiful and moving. Not to mention the spectacular music that will support the drama. I took some great photos of the scenes taking shape but I don't want to spoil the surprise for you...so make sure you are in Sydney on that Friday afternoon!
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