DYKER HEIGHTS — For 25 years, there has been a rite of passage at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy. Each eighth grade student is given a role in a living performance of the Passion, performed for their family, younger classmates, and parishioners on Good Friday.
In less than two months, the students learn about the lives of the disciples and other people from the Gospels, in order to become them in the performance and, in turn, better understand their faith. Dean Ferraro took center stage in the performance as Jesus and believed he was chosen for the role because of his responsible nature.
“It moved me spiritually because I’m put in his position, and I feel the pain of Him. They mocked me, they cursed at me, they spat on me,” Ferraro said.
On Ash Wednesday, religion teacher Sister Shirlee Tremont gave each eighth grade student a role in the Passion play, representing scenes connected with Jesus’ trial, suffering, and death. In her 25 years at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy, Sister Shirlee has led all 24 of their Good Friday performances, canceling only one due to the pandemic.
While not every student was given larger roles like Jesus, St. Peter, or Mary, she hopes that the students each recognize the importance of the people they represent — even if they don’t have a name.
“Nothing in your life is insignificant,” Sister Shirlee said. “Nothing we are asking you to do here is insignificant. It all adds to the great final picture of Resurrection one day,” she said.
Marlena Torre, Alessandra Combo, and Reve Giroux each play a townsperson in the performance. In their roles, they cry out for the crucifixion of Jesus after being among his followers, fearing retaliation, and giving in to pressure from those in power. They drew from their roles the importance of not giving in to peer pressure.
“It’s a great experience because we spend all of our time in the church, so we are with Jesus for this entire experience,” Giroux said.
After returning from spring break, the students practiced the play for two days each week: during school on Monday, and after school on Thursday. For Christian Vangeli, who plays Peter, it isn’t really a play: It’s a prayer experience. “I connected to God more when I experienced this. I feel like all this effort, all these lines, it’s for God,” he said.
The performance does not only move the students, Sister Shirlee says — it resonates with those who come on Good Friday to watch the performance, a standing room-only crowd in the church.
Among those in that crowd was Maria Ciarametaro, a parishioner at St. Bernadette and a 1981 graduate of the parish school. She has been attending the Good Friday performance for years, witnessing how it’s progressed over time.
“It’s extraordinary because children [mostly] don’t do this anymore. It’s so uplifting that they learn all about the reason for everything and the Bible, and they are able to really understand it by acting it out,” she said.
