Burkina Faso Catholics Commemorate Good Friday with Poignant Reenactment

OUAGADOUGOU – In a solemn observance of Good Friday, the Catholic community of Saint-André de Saaba parish, located on the northern outskirts of Ouagadougou, deeply engaged in the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death. The event, detailed by the AIB, underscores a tradition that, although thousands of miles and years removed from the original event, connects the faithful to the sacredness of this pivotal moment in Christian doctrine.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the parishioners, early on Friday, gathered to witness a dramatic representation of the Stations of the Cross, enacted with notable intensity by the parish’s youth. Throughout the fourteen stations, the portrayal of Jesus’ suffering—from his arrest and trial to his crucifixion—was vividly brought to life, complete with the physical abuse meted out by actors playing Roman soldiers. Their convincing performance, particularly at the seventh station where ‘Jesus’ stumbled and fell under the weight of the cross for the second time, elicited strong emotional responses from the audience. The cries of women in the procession, blending with the simulated violence, blurred the lines between performance and reality for many attendees, some of whom were moved to tears, while others turned away, overwhelmed by the raw depiction of cruelty.

The priest presiding over the event called on the congregation to spend the day in contemplation of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, urging them to absorb and live out the profound lessons of obedience to God, love, and sacrifice for others that this observance embodies.

Following this day of reflection and remembrance, the Catholic community will observe a day of silence on Saturday, leading up to Easter Sunday’s celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, symbolizing his triumph over death.