African Way of the Cross Following Our Local African Situation Especially the Sufferings, Crosses, and Problems of Our Everyday Life
African Way of the Cross Following Our Local African Situation Especially the Sufferings, Crosses, and Problems of Our Everyday Life
By Rev. Joseph G. Healey, M.M.
(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