SAN ANTONIO — It's a Good Friday tradition that attracts the faithful and the curious to downtown San Antonio.
Thousands line the streets to get a glimpse back in time.
KENS 5 met the dedicated volunteers who bring The Passion of Christ to life.
Every year during Holy Week, the faithful receive an agonizing reminder of the brutality Christ endured in his final hours.
A dramatic Bilingual re-enactment depicts the arrest, trial and suffering of Jesus. This year's Passion procession began at Travis Park, walked down E. Travis Street, then turned south on N. Main to San Fernando Cathedral.
Thousands of spectators are led on a spiritual journey, taking time to repent and reflect.
"When they're whipping Jesus, and they do because he comes out with scars on his back, it's very real, very real," said Olga Villaseñor, a volunteer who acts in the Passion Play.
KENS 5 learned firsthand why this sacred ritual takes weeks to prepare.
Director, Edgar Holguin, starts rehearsals after Ash Wednesday. This year, he is directing and playing the role of one of the main soldiers.
Every Good Friday, he counts on roughly 10,000 people to catch the Passion of Christ downtown.
"I've been doing it for almost 23 years," said Holguin, a former wrestler, who's in his third year as director. "There was nobody to direct it, so I went ahead and got tapped on the shoulders because I already had done every single part there is -- except for Jesus."
Twice a week, cast members gather in the shadow of San Fernando doing at least three run-throughs each night.
Holguin says an all-volunteer cast can be challenging.
"Trying to get them to one, show up to practice. Second, to memorize their lines," he explained. "They take it seriously at the last two weeks."
Plus, he says the acting experience is minimal.
"[I tell them], the last time you acted was in your fifth grade play and you were a tree. Of course you're not gonna be able to duplicate it. So I just tell them, 'Relax, learn it. Once you know it, once you memorize it, everything comes in play.'"
Many of these volunteers are relying on a higher power to help direct them.
"I'm hoping something may be able to take over me and lead me the right way," said 19-year-old Raul Garcia, who was chosen for the role of Jesus. "I do a lot of daily prayer just for guidance, for some wisdom."
The play now requires a backup for the most important role of Jesus.
"Due to COVID, we decided to have an understudy," said Holguin. "You just never know, he might get sick and we might have to stop the play!"
This year, three of the main actors in the Passion re-enactment were recruited from San Fernando's Youth Program.
Garcia, a freshman at UTSA, is one of them. He says the role of Jesus Christ carries with it an immense weight of responsibility.
"It's not an easy task to fill his shoes," said Garcia, who said he's not really the type to be center stage. "It's a big thing, you know? It's a little nerve wracking."
Holguin's focus is to get more youth involved in the prrocession. He said when it's his time to leave, he's hoping one of the youth members he's recruited will accept the challenge to continue directing this annual re-enactment.
Villaseñor, a volunteer since 1999, calls the experience her passion.
"I'm one of the good ones. I'm not the one that yells 'Crucify him!' or 'Kill him!' I'm the good one. I go, 'Stop it! He's innocent! He hasn't done anything!' I cry all the way," Villaseñor explained. "I really get into the moment. I go back to that time."
Good Friday is traditionally a day of sorrow made all the more powerful by the devotion of the faithful.
Their revival of the Passion of Christ prepares us for a more joyous occasion: The celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
"At 12 o'clock when the bells ring, that's when [Jesus] bows his head," said Villaseñor.
Villaseñor invites the public to get involved, as there's a great need for volunteers. You don't have to be a parishioner of San Fernando Cathedral to join. This play is put on by volunteers from a collaboration of churches within the Archdiocese of San Antonio.