WYD Way of the Cross on Video

Memories of youth celebration return with VHS, DVD

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) and distributed by Novalis, the video runs for almost three hours.

It has the full live coverage of the dramatic staging of the Way of the Cross hosted by CBC news chief correspondent, Peter Mansbridge. This video is in its original English and French presentation.

The Way of the Cross recalls the events of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The 14 stations depict those moments when Jesus stopped along the way to Calvary.

Narration for the stations alternates between French and English and prayers in English and French are interspersed with Italian, Spanish and Latin.

The video comes with a booklet containing the complete text of the Way of the Cross as written by Pope John Paul.

The dramatization took place along University Avenue in downtown Toronto, on the evening of July 26, 2002.

This performance captivated hundreds of thousands surging through the streets of the city that night, as well as an estimated one billion television viewers around the globe.

Now it is available for home viewing, for parish and school use.

One pilgrim from Edmonton, Ernesto Rizzi of St. Alphonsus Parish, was caught by the camera from the audience and was shown reflecting while participating in the Way of the Cross.

In a press release, Novalis said, "Over and over again, we have heard how experiencing the passion of Christ on the crowded streets of a modern metropolis has had a profound effect on those lucky enough to experience it.

"Now with this video presentation, the feeling, immediacy and modernity of this historic event can be taken home and experienced by the youth in every metropolis and very small town."

Those who were in Toronto can relive their experience by watching this video in the comfort of their homes. They will get a new perspective and will see the flow of the drama in a different angle.

The video also shows reactions from people caught by the camera, which participants in Toronto did not see.

CBC and Novalis released two editions of the video: one is for home use and the other is for public viewing (for use in group screenings, by schools, parishes and libraries.)

Home use edition (VHS or DVD) is $29.95, while the public performance edition (VHS or DVD) is $89.95. To order, call 1-800-387-7164.

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