Stations of the Cross have been a powerful Lenten activity for years. As we modify our faith formation activities to make them Covid-safe, the logical adaptation is to set up outside Stations of the Cross stations. Don’t worry about this being a super huge project! I have a couple of options here that will make it easy for you to pull this off.
Easy Ways to Make Outdoor Stations of the Cross:
Option 1: Set-out symbolic representations of each event with posters
Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death: Rope to represent the rope used to tie up Jesus
Station 2: Jesus carries his cross: Paint sticks cut down and glued into cross shape
Station 3: Jesus falls the first time: A first aid wrap
Station 4: Jesus meets his mother: A statue of Mary
Station 5: Simon helps Jesus carry his cross: A utility glove to indicate Simon being the “helping hand.”
Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: A big piece of soft fabric or a handkerchief with the image of face
Station 7: Jesus falls the second time: A knee brace
Station 8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem: A box of tissue
Station 9: Jesus falls the third time: A crutch
Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments: A robe
Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross: A big nail
Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross: A crown of thorns made from grape vines
Station 13: Jesus is taken from the cross: A picture of Michelangelo’s Pieta (laminated)
Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb: A big rock
Prepare Station markers:
- Print these traditional Stations of the Cross posters on heavy weight paper.
- Laminate them to withstand the weather and mount on a sturdy paint stick or skewer.
- Post the visuals along with these objects at spread out stations on your church property.
Option 2: Buy some Outdoor Aluminum Stations of the Cross Plates
An easier approach is to buy a set of aluminum metal plates that are perfect for outdoor use. They come in 3 sizes and can be easily mounted with adhesive to make a prayer walk. The smallest size is less than $100.
Reflective guides:
Whether indoors or outdoors, the key to a family friendly experience is to offer reflective passages that are kid-friendly and relevant.
- For lower elementary, use this simple 2 page Stations of the Cross Guide for Children that can be printed 2 sided on one sheet to paper.
- For upper elementary, this Stations of the Cross for Children Booklet is powerful. The parent can read the “The Way of Jesus” part and a child can read the “Our Way to Jesus” part.
- For teens, The Stations of the Cross for Teens from Archdiocese of Winnipeg is quite good and enables us to directly apply the Stations to our lives.