Fr. George Wertin presided over the celebration. George’s proverbial  message entailed being aware that Jesus died not only for us alone, but for all the sins of the world. He implied that we are not the masters but the followers and thus must make a conscious choice to do Jesus’ work daily.

Coincidentally, Holy Week marked the 25th anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s assassination while offering Mass in El Salvador. Like this Lent’s theme of ‘Thirsting for Living Waters’, Oscar Romero,  through his prophetic life, answered his call to live in solidarity with the troubled in the world. His work amongst the poor and oppressed powerfully set examples for others who are willing to serve.

George Wertin  emphasized that through this Passion Week we look at Jesus’ journey as a theological statement. It is presented in a multilayered account examining the powerful and weak, wealthy and poor, doubters and believers. Jesus’ challenge of the dominant structure is told in The Passion which illustrates, quite convincingly, the price Jesus had to pay. It is not verbatim, rather it is a story to clarify Jesus’ love for us then and today in our lives. His challenge to us is to emulate that love with our compassion for others in our lives. Can we take on a commitment to serve and care for others  with an unselfish dedication. The story further explains how this eternity of work is and will remain a  continuum, a ‘journey’ in SJA parlance.

Preparing for the readings, Robert  Robinson and the Choir sang Moses Hogan’s  “Jesus Lay Your Head On  the Window”. The song delivers an invitation for comfort and rest with Robert’s beckoning voice  accompanied by Nancy Stockhaus’ superb soprano solo. The tonal voices called us to the story about to unfold.

The dramatic Palm Sunday reading  punctuates the plight of Jesus. In past years, St. Joan's has reprised   this outstanding  presentation  directed by Peter Rothstein. The contributing readers were Nancy Gormley, Mark Scannell, Roger Dick, JP Fitzgibbons, Christopher Hermann, Julie Madden, Rik Murray and Tina Moulder. Their roles included a Narrator, Jesus, Peter, Judas, Pilate, and many followers. 

SJA’s compelling reading delivered the full spectrum of Jesus' death and resurrection, both chilling and compelling.  Each reader convincingly became their character, so real that just closing your eyes  gave the sensation of being at that pivotal moment. The presentation  included  articulate sound  effects from Anna Vagle’s recorder, including howling a make believe windstorm that brought the audience into the moment of Jesus' death.

Musicians Shane Speltz and Dick Hedlund accompanied Dan Chouinard as he  transformed a tonal death and resurrection on the keyboard. At one point, one note mysteriously appears; a moan ever so slowly rising from the depths. And finally, darkness breaking through to the other side  ....awakening all present to the salvation and rebirth promise. Such musical anticipation created  a perfect point  for Robert to complete the moment with his siren cry to all present  to be ready with ‘The Wondrous Day of our God’.  

The end result was a congregation moved, quite possibly, beyond any single SJA performance experienced. The crescendo of Robert’s voice, along with the choir, professing  a salvation moment in a grandiose finale. The congregation emphatically stood in a joyous ovation. During communion, Robert again joined the choir in one of it’s favorite songs,  Kirk Frankl’s ‘Now Behold The Lamb'. The harmony  of this piece  created a pleasant ending to the mass.

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!

Rick Spaulding is a photographer specializing in digital photography for the theater and works for National Camera Exchange. He is also an antique dealer and eBay afficianado who enjoys collecting marbles but his true joys in life are his two boys and his beautiful wife, Tinia.

This Palm Sunday celebration brought a quintessential experience to the congregation. It is evident for those participating that the day is an important reflective event. We left with Fr. Wertin’s message of Jesus’ unconditional  love of the world  and how we can learn from His lesson and carry it forth in our own lives. To be actively alert to others in all our affairs. To focus on the needs of our world around us. To walk in His footsteps.

Hear the audio of the Palm Sunday reading and Robert Robinson's 'Wondrous Day' until mid-April at our Highlights page