New Bedford’s Brooklawn Park Hosting Passion of Christ Play

Note: Due to expected inclement weather, the Passion of Christ play at Brooklawn Park  has been moved to Monday, April 14th at 6 pm. 

Two Roman Catholic parishes in New Bedford, St. Anthony's of Padua and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, are presenting the Passion of Christ play on Monday, April 14  at 6 p.m. at Brooklawn Park in New Bedford's North End.

Sister Transfiguration and Sister Maria, organizers of the event, stopped by Townsquare Sunday to discuss the importance of the Passion, and the workings behind the play itself.

This is the third year for the Passion of Christ play at Brooklawn Park. Last year's event attracted more than 300 spectators.

"I really didn't realize how big a crowd there was," Sister Transfiguration said. "Then I saw all the cars trying to get in, and all the people walking in and I said, 'Wow, there's a lot of people.' There were cars parked everywhere."

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More than 75 actors and behind-the-scenes volunteers will take part.

"They get involved in different ways," Sister Maria said. "We have a lot of parish groups, young adults, people seeking to learn more about their faith, and it's a good way for people in different communities to come together. A lot of them enjoy dressing up like a Roman soldier."

The play will start outside St. Joseph's Church at 6 p.m. when Jesus is condemned to death. The entourage will then move across Acushnet Avenue to Brooklawn Park to complete the play.

Rehearsals have already taken place and props are being constructed, including a bigger cross. Costumes are being sewed by volunteer stitchers.

"This is not a show," Sister Transfiguration said. "The only purpose of this is to bring Jesus to others. There is still much suffering and a lot of people are far away from God, and this is a way to get closer to Him."

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