Introduction:

The Mystery of the Passion of Christ is a two and a half hour stage play based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the New Testament. The play was adapted for the stage by Father Z. Francis Wawryszuk, M.S.F. and is unique to western Canada.

The Mystery of the Passion of Christ is neither theatre nor drama. It is the dignified presentation of a mystery that unfolds in the hearts of the actors and its purpose is to awaken reflection. The greatest and deepest of all the mysteries, which took place 2,000 years ago, is an on-going process and continues to be re-enacted at every moment of our lives, each and every day until the second coming of Christ at the end of time.

Over forty volunteers work together to prepare the set, costumes and music for the play. This is truly a Lenten journey in preparation for the great season of Easter. This inter-denominational group from Balgonie, Buchanan, Canora, Grayson, Melville, Preeceville, Sturgis and Yorkton, have set out to make this play an annual event as a prelude to Holy Week. At times during the play, the Choir enters the action serving as the crowd that, at the beginning, hailed Jesus as Messiah and which now condemns Him. The hymns also provide a musical bridge between scenes. Thus the Choir sets the mood and leads us to think rather than be entertained. If acting out the Mystery inspires a descent into the heart, it will have achieved its purpose.

To the present date, The Mystery of the Passion of Christ has been presented at Canora, Estevan, Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Melville, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Rosetown, Saskatoon, Vermilion, Alberta, Wadena, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Wynyard and Yorkton.

Bookings are being accepted now for the 2010 and 2011 Lenten seasons by contacting the director, Peter Champagne at (306) 728-3617.

"The Christian soul never lets a day go by without meditating on the Passion of Jesus Christ."
- Padre Pio

Welcome!

Welcome to the picture web site of The Mystery of the Passion of Christ. We have just completed our eleventh season of performances!

If this is your first visit, please be aware that each new posting is always posted above the previous one. If you wish to view the entire website in chronalogical order from the beginning, you may want to begin by starting with the September page in the "archives" just over to the top left which includes an introduction. Next you would go to the November page (no postings in October!) and so forth. Double clicking on a picture will give you a larger view, click on it again and it gets bigger yet! Then, to return, click your back button at the top left of your monitor screen.

We hope that you enjoy our pictures and we invite you to return periodically to view the newest ones as we do, occasionally, add new pictures to the web site!

This is our 10th anniversary logo:



My "Apostle Peter" site: http://apostlepeter.blogspot.com/

Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation by Peter Champagne at the Tenth Anniversary 2005 Mystery of the Passion of Christ Potluck and Wind-up

Eleanor Wozney: Secretary, prompter, wife of Pilate and a woman at the gate.

Peter Champagne: Managing Director and Jesus being presented his certificate of appreciation by Leonard Slogotski on behalf of the entire group.

Peter Champagne with young people of the group.

Leonard Slogotski: Director of Advertising and Publicity, Director of Stage Crew, Apostle Peter and Roman Soldier. Member of the original cast and recognized for having attended all rehearsals and performances over the past ten years.

Ken Rolheiser: Director of Spiritual Activities and Judas
Member of the original cast.

Eleanor Ludba: Treasurer
Member of the original choir.

Sophie Fullawka: Director of Social Activities and Soprano in the choir.
Member of the original choir.

Jerry Semaschuk: Apostle.

Betty Spakowski: Director of Costumes, prompter and Mary.

Shirley Woytas: Soprano in the choir.

Vicky Haskewich: Soprano in the choir.

Carol Hauber: Vice - Choir Director and Soprano in the choir.

Catherine Wilson: Choir Director.

Kristopher Wilson: Child at the Gate.

Sylvia Lozinski: Soprano in the choir.

Matt Lozinski: Bass in the choir.

Dave Hudy: Apostle, Roman Soldier and Pilate.

Ed Sagan: Tenor in the choir.

Ernest Wozney: Apostle Thomas and Roman Soldier.

Rod Degenstein: Tenor in the choir.

Vern Sawchuk: Barabbas

Chris Smyth: Priest's Guard, Unrepentant Thief and Pilate's Servant

Elishah Stilborn: Mary Magdalen and a Woman at the Gate.

Steve Matechuk

The Mystery of the Passion of Christ Directors

(Left to right)
Catherine Wilson: Choir Director *
Sophie Fullawks: Director of Social Activities
Peter Champagne: Managing Director ** *
Betty Spakowski: Director of Costumes
Steve Matechuk: Director of Props
Eleanor Ludba: Treasurer ** *
Ken Rolheiser: Director of Spiritual Activities
Leonard Slogotski: Director of Advertising and Publicity *
and Director of Stage Crew
(Not in picture)
Carol Hauber: Vice - Choir Director
Eleanor Wozney: Recording Secretary
Craig Kozachinko: Director of Lighting
Justin Parrot: Director of Sound *
(Vacant)
Vice Managing Director ** *

** Finance Committee
* Executive Committee

Tenth Anniversary 2005 Potluck and Wind-up

The very picturesque Cheryl Mucha, alto singer in the choir of The Mystery of the Passion of Christ.

Peter and Betty with their billet hosts.

Volunteers at St. Joseph's who enabled the presentation of The Mystery of the Passion of Christ in North Battleford. This is the right hand view of the group.

Volunteers at St. Joseph's who enabled the presentation of The Mystery of the Passion of Christ in North Battleford. This is the center part of the group.

Volunteers at St. Joseph's who enabled the presentation of The Mystery of the Passion of Christ in North Battleford. This is the left hand view of the group.

Desert is served!

Preparation of desert in the kitchen at St. Joseph's.

The last supper at St. Joseph's.