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Tagaste Monastery Hosts Ecumenical Stations of the Cross
Tagaste friars begin the procession for Stations of the Cross. On Good Friday April 14, 2006, bilingual, ecumenical Stations of the Cross were held at Tagaste Monastery, the major seminary of the Augustinian Recollects in Suffern, New York. The Stations of the Cross are a 15 stage (or “station”) reflection on how Christ carried the cross, offered his life by dying on the cross, and rose again to give everyone eternal life. Three seminarians in somber black habits and white surplices carried lit candles and the Lord’s cross from one station to the next in the monastery chapel. Every year our house of formation in Suffern, New York, hosts this event. It brings together Christians of different denominations—“ecumenism” means the promotion of unity among all Christians—and allows us to prepare together for Easter. Usually it is held outdoors in the lovely woods on the monastery grounds. This year, however, rain began to fall as the participants were gathering for the scheduled start time of 12 noon so everyone moved indoors into the monastery chapel. The pastors and members of three Suffern churches—Christ Church of Ramapo (Episcopalian), Christ Lutheran Church, and Suffern Methodist Church—participated along with many members of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and the friars of Tagaste Monastery. Each station included reflections in both English and Spanish offered not only by the clergy but also members of the various churches present. The Sacred Heart Spanish choir led the congregation in singing verses of “Perdona tu Pueblo Señor” (Pardon your people, O Lord) between each station. It was just one more way the Augustinian Recollects further St. Augustine’s vision: “One heart and one mind journeying together to God.” Fr. Frank Wilder,
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