Pilsen church celebrates scaled-down living way of the cross

Isaac Bucio marched in tattered, bloodstained robes with a massive wooden cross on his back for St. Procopius Catholic Church’s annual Via Crucis event Friday.

His fellow actors whipped him lightly with a rope covered in fake blood as a procession followed in prayer down Racine Avenue in Pilsen.

Via Crucis, which means Stations of the Cross in Spanish, was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Rev. Adan Sandoval was grateful the church could hold the Good Friday procession again even though the crowd was half of its usual throng of “thousands.” Those who couldn’t be there live, could watch the event virtually.

“At times we hear so much negative news that we are closing churches and that people don’t go to church anymore,” Sandoval said. “But there’s another side of the story, that some people have this hunger for God, and we need to celebrate that.”

Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, carries a cross during the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, acts as if he is crucified during Via Crucis on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, lies down on the floor of St. Procopious Catholic Church during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, falls to the ground during the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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The family of Ivana Paramo helps her get ready for Via Crucis at Providence of God Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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People join the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, falls to the ground during the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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People dressed as soldiers join the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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People dressed as soldiers join the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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People watch as the Via Crucis procession passes by in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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The Via Crucis procession travels through Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, falls to the ground during the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, carries a cross during a Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person joins the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, reenacts the Last Supper during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person joins the Via Crucis procession in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, lies down on the stage as a man dressed as death faces him during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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People join a procession during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Bystanders watch as people join a procession during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Barrera, who plays Pontius Pilate, right, joins a procession during Via Crucis in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A family attends Via Crucis on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Ivana Paramo attends Via Crucis on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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The hands of Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, are chained during Via Crucis at Providence of God Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, acts as if he is crucified during Via Crucis on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Nancy Ayala, who plays Mary, cradles Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, during Via Crucis on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Isaac Bucio, who plays Jesus Christ, acts as if he is dead during Via Crucis, or the Way of the Cross, on the field of St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen, Friday morning, April 2, 2021. The annual Via Crucis is a Good Friday tradition that reenacts the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that recounts Jesus’ passion and death. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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This is the 44th year the church has held the procession — the oldest in the Midwest, according to Sandoval.

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The procession usually starts at St. Procopius, 1641 S Allport St., and ends at Harrison Park, at 1824 S Wood St., where there is a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This year, a reenactment of the Last Supper was live-streamed from the Providence of God Church, 717 W 18th St., before the march ended at a soccer field outside of St. Procopius, where large wooden crosses had been placed. At the soccer field, the actors reenacted the crucifixion, capping off this year’s Via Crucis.

Bucio, a Chicago firefighter, has played Jesus Christ on several other occasions for the church. He just got the call last week about reprising his role again for Via Crucis.

“It brings the whole community together,” Bucio said of the procession. “When this is full-blown, 18th street you can’t walk. People come out just to get a glimpse of the procession passing by.”