L.A church compares the death of Jesus Christ to the suffering of undocumented families

On Holy Friday, hundreds of parishioners from Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles church in historic Los Angeles walked from Placita Olvera to City Hall following a very emotional recreation of the Way to the Cross.

This time, the 12 stations were not only representing the passion of Jesus Christ–representing his suffering, trial, crucifixion and death–but were also compared to the suffering many undocumented immigrants are now facing in the United States. 

Arturo Corral, pastor of the church, also known as La Placita, said this recreation was an act of solidarity with the immigrant community.

“The different steps that we are going to have during the Way of the Cross will highlight some of the aspects of how immigrants have helped this nation and how they deserve the dignity to be treated as good people, not as felons,” said Corral before the event began.

 One of the most emotional stops was when Jesus of Nazareth, represented by activist Juan Venancio, kneeled at the tree of Gethsemane and prayed to God, asking him to take away his suffering. Right after his plea, he was arrested by soldiers.

In the same scene, a group of parishioners acted as an undocumented family. Immigration officers arrived at their home, knocking and kicking the door as the officers entered and took everyone. The mother and grandmother cried of anguish, while the children wondered what was happening.

The two children participating were siblings Tadeo and Rihanna Martinez. Both of the children’s acting was spectacular as their crying seemed very real, bringing tears to the eyes of many parishioners, as well. 

Rihanna, 12, said she felt sad to interpret a child of an undocumented family but at the same time she was glad to see this was just acting.  Tadeo, 8, said he had never acted before but this was a good interpretation of real life. 

Their father, Antonio de Jesus Martinez, acted as one of the soldiers. He said the message to the people was to prove that migrants suffer in a similar way that Jesus did. 

“We did our best to act and take the message to the people,” said Antonio de Jesus. “We practice like seven or eight times only.”

Acting with a strong message

Venancio, who is a member of  the Federación Poblana, said he has acted as Jesus Christ in the past and this time he was invited by La Placita and he accepted.

“I read the script and [when I] saw that it was compared to the immigrant community, I liked it,” he said. “We want to give hope to people and we have to raise our voices in an uncertain moment.” 

Ana Carrasco, mother of Tadeo and Rihanna, also acted as one of the undocumented immigrants who lost her job. She said the scene was so real that it really made her cry. 

“This is very sad to see what is actually happening in the country,” she said. 

Longtime activist Juan Jose Gutierrez,, performed as Judas Iscariot and one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus Christ. He said the event was very important because it reflects how  families are currently being persecuted “so viciously and with such force” by immigration officers without caring for them as human beings.

“On Holy Friday, we have to remind the American public that as Christians we cannot be supportive of such policies,” he said. “So today, we are relieving the passion of Christ but we are substituting the suffering of Christ with the current suffering that is affecting and afflicting the entire undocumented immigrant community.”