After discussions with family friends and other parishioners about the result that social distancing and the void of community would have on an otherwise impactful Holy Week, Immaculate Conception-Loose Creek parishioners wanted to do something about it.

“Easter and the Masses of Holy Week have always been one of my favorite times of the year,” said Cindy Robertson, who helped organized a drive-through option to pray at the stations of the cross around the church in Loose Creek. “In thinking about sacrifice and what this holiest of weeks means, I felt that one way to share our personal sacrificing of social distancing and our Lenten sacrificing with Jesus was through the Stations of the Cross.”

It really was a group effort and wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Dan and Dale Thoenen and the Thoenen Cabinet Shop.

Within an hour of her call, Robertson had 14 crosses at her doorstep. Kim Borgmeyer donated solar lights so the stations could be seen at night, and her father-in-law, Glenn Robertson, made the large cross that stood at the 12th station.

“With the help of my husband and kids we were able to have them in place the next day,” said Robertson. “For an otherwise difficult project, everything seem to fall in place easily as if it were meant to happen! I’m not sure how many people were able to visit or use them, but even if only a few came it was worth it to have an otherwise empty parking lot bringing about prayer again, even if it was in separation. I’ve heard many people say that because of this year’s circumstances new traditions and ideas have been created. I am a believer in that! Possibly the outside Stations of the Cross will be one of those new traditions that lasts for years to come, well after our separation has ended, and we’re brought back together once more.”