Talent, commitment and purpose on show during Holy Week
Schools
Sacred Heart College and St Mary’s College were just two of the many schools across Adelaide to celebrate the Stations of the Cross this Easter. The participating pupils gave everything to make their occasions a resounding success.
A stunning 1,000 1,000 students and staff turned out to watch a Stations of the Cross procession at Sacred Heart College in Somerton Park on Holy Thursday, while the Brighton Parish and Sacred Heart communities came together to watch a repeat of the procession on Good Friday, when again the attendance was very high.
Appearing in the role of Jesus was Year 12’s Kuda Jeranya in a performance that included 12 students and one staff member and was held in conjunction with the Brighton parish.
Within the Adelaide CBD during Holy Week, the Veritas Lawns at St Mary’s College in Adelaide became a place of quiet reflection as Reception to Year 12 students, staff and community members gathered to walk the Stations of the Cross.
All students and staff participated in the annual tradition, and with the music from the concert choir, setting set a reverent tone, the Stations invited participants to pause amid the busyness of the school day and enter into the story of Christ in a meaningful way.
Director of Mission, Bronwyn Ridley, said the gathering was a powerful expression of the college’s faith in action.
“The Way of the Cross reminds us that faith is not something separate from our everyday lives,” she said. “It challenges us to recognise Christ in our own experiences and in one another.”
Students took an active role in leading the liturgy, with senior students reading reflections and younger year levels participating in prayer and song. Fifteen students from varying year levels re-enacted the ritual. Year 6 student, Molly, portraying Jesus, described the experience as both confronting and reassuring.
“Walking the Stations made me think about how pressure and stress can feel overwhelming,” she said. “But seeing how Jesus kept going, even when he fell, reminded me that it’s okay to struggle, and that you don’t have to do it alone.”
Throughout the journey, the reflections encouraged participants to connect the Stations to contemporary life, from the weight of expectations and social pressures to broader issues of injustice and marginalisation.
The choir’s music, carefully selected by vocal director Alexandra Stubberfield, blended traditional hymns with contemporary pieces, including At the Cross, with music and lyrics by Reuben Morgan and Darlene Zschech. Performed by the College’s Concert Choir, the piece featured a solo by Year 11 student Maisy (pictured), whose voice added a reflective and deeply personal dimension to the liturgy.
“We chose music that students could connect with emotionally,” Ms Stubberfield said. “The aim was to help them feel the journey, not just observe it.”
As the Stations progressed, moments such as Simon helping Jesus carry the cross and Veronica’s act of compassion were highlighted as invitations to consider how individuals respond to others in need. These encounters resonated strongly with students and reinforced the College’s focus on faith in action.
Year 7 student Sophie P reflected on the sense of unity the experience created.
“It felt like everyone was supporting each other,” she said. “It made me realise that even when things are hard, there are people around you who care.”
