St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community’s youth used art to portray the Stations of the Cross.
Some drew pictures, while others incorporated writing, paint or clay to depict them.
One student – Landyn Van Handel – decided to use welding as his art form, and the result was a seven-foot high metal cross that he donated to the parish.
Joseph Bolle is the youth minister at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community, and he explained that he wanted to get a group of youth from the parish to artistically portray the Stations of the Cross.
“The Stations of the Cross is a 14-step reflection of Jesus’ passion and death. I told the youth that I would display their pieces during holy week, specifically Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, as those days also commemorate Jesus’ passion and death,” he said.
Bolle did not want to limit the youth to strictly painting or drawing, so he allowed them to pick the art form they would like to use.
“I was open to pretty much anything from painting to writing to in Landyn’s case, welding,” he said.
Van Handel was the second person to volunteer to artistically portray one of the 14 Stations.
Bolle allowed him to pick which Station he wanted to depict, and Van Handel selected the 12th station, “Jesus Dies on the Cross.”
Van Handel then asked Bolle two questions.
The first was whether he could use welding as his art form.
“I explained that I wanted him to be as creative as possible and that I would like to see him use whatever gifts God has given him so yes he could absolutely use welding,” Bolle said.
Van Handel’s second question was, “How big can it be?”
Bolle jokingly responded, “As long as it can fit in the building.”
Van Handel collected materials and built the metal cross.
The finished product is beautiful, Bolle said, adding that Van Handel was “kind enough to donate it to Saint Mary Magdalene Parish.