African Way of the Cross Following Our Local African Situation Especially the Sufferings, Crosses, and Problems of Our Everyday Life

(Composed in consultation with Small Christian Communities [SCCs] in East Africa)

1st Station: “Jesus is Condemned to Death.”

Theme: Apartheid, Detention without Trial, Discrimination, Favoritism, Violations of Human Rights, Hypocrisy, Injustice, Torture, Tribalism, Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, and Unfair Trials.

2nd Station: “Jesus Takes Up His Cross.”

Theme: Hunger, Famine, Drought, Dirty Water, and Floods.

3rd Station: “Jesus Falls the First Time.”

Theme: Sin Especially Breaking the Ten Commandments.

4th Station: “Jesus Meets His Mother.”

Theme: Family Problems, Wife-beating, Polygamy, Unwanted Pregnancies, Unwanted Orphans, Discord, Hatred, Holding Grudges, In-fighting, and Jealousy.

5th Station: “Simon of Cyrene Takes up the Cross of Jesus.”

Theme: Laziness, Selfishness, Difficulties in Traveling, and Dangerous Driving.

6th Station: “Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.”

Theme: Sickness (especially AIDS, Dehydration, Malaria, Malnutrition, and Tuberculosis), Ignorance About Health, and Scarcity of Medicine and Health Care.

7th Station: “Jesus Falls the Second Time.”

Theme: Drunkenness and Witchcraft.

8th Station: “The Women of Jerusalem Weep for Jesus.”

Theme: Lying and Deceit.

9th Station: “Jesus Falls the Third Time.”

Theme: Blackmail, Bribery, Corruption, Fraud, Graft, Smuggling, Inflated Prices, High Rent, Low Wages, Lack of Jobs, IMF and SAP Regulations, and the External Debt Crisis.

10th Station: “Jesus is Stripped of His Garments.”

Theme: Poverty, Nakedness, and the Plight of Refugees, Displaced People, and Street Children.

11th Station: “Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.”

Theme: Political Dictatorships, Military Oppression, Civil War, and Nuclear Weapons.

12th Station: “Jesus Dies on the Cross.”

Theme: Accidental Deaths and High Children Mortality.

13th Station: “Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.”

Theme: Backbiting, Calumny, Contempt, False Rumors, Gossip, and Insults.

14th Station: “Jesus is Laid in the Tomb.”

Theme: Sadness, Despair, Inadequate Housing, and Unjust Land Distribution.

15th Station: “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Theme: Jesus Christ (called “Victor Over Death” in African Languages) Overcomes Death and Brings the Joy and Hope of Everlasting Life.

Rev. Joseph G. Healey, M.M.
Nairobi, Kenya
JGHealey@aol.com

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