For over 15 years, a devoted community has been turning a church parking lot into a moving spiritual experience at our San Gabriel Mission in California.
For a few hours, more than a hundred people in tunics, laurels, and sandals bring the Passion of Jesus Christ to life. Real tears are shed. Voices fall silent. Even the most seasoned hearts are moved. Every instrument, every voice, every moment is performed live. When Christ is crucified at the final station, Father Gabriel Ruiz, CMF, leads a reflection on the resurrection of Jesus.
This is the Viacrucis Viviente—the Living Way of the Cross—a beloved tradition organized each year by Brazos Abiertos, a vibrant faith community at San Gabriel’s Claretian Mission. Planning begins as early as January, with members gathering week after week to ensure that when Good Friday arrives, every detail reflects the depth of their devotion. This year’s event was organized by Ángeles Tinoco and Luis Lomelí.
Brazos Abiertos—”Open Arms”—is a community of more than 450 members guided by Father Ruiz, CMF. Together as a Claretian family, they are united in a shared mission: to bring hope and the love of Christ to all people, regardless of where they come from or where they are in their journey of faith.
From catechism classes for children to women’s retreats, the group works tirelessly to bring the love of Jesus to anyone who seeks it. Their retreats have touched so many lives that they continue to be invited to bring their message and retreats to Mexico—Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Baja California, and Zacatecas — with up to 50 members traveling across the border to serve communities. In Oaxaca alone, 700 people attended.
Luz Elena Benavidez de Monte has been part of this tradition for many years: first as the coordinator of the Living Way of the Cross, and today as assistant secretary of Brazos Abiertos. She has watched the community grow into something far beyond a single event.
“That people como to learn Jesus. They learn of his love and realize that his love is so immense that without a single word, he gave his life for us.”
— Luz Elena Benavidez
For Luz Elena, that is the miracle of the Viacrucis: the conversion of souls. Seeing someone encounter the story of Christ’s Passion for the first time, and leave forever changed.
The tradition has become woven into the fabric of families within San Gabriel. Eduardo López, who portrayed Jesus this year, is a powerful example. As a child, he stood in that same parking lot watching his elders perform the Viacrucis. Now he stands at its center, carrying the cross himself.
“The opportunity to be able to evangelize, to spread the Word in that way has been great. It’s been a blessed experience.”
– Eduardo López
The Brazos Abiertos community will celebrate it 43rd anniversary this year with each generation passing the flame forward. In a world that often moves too fast, the parking lot of San Gabriel Mission becomes a place where time slows down, where the ancient story is told again with living hands and open hearts, and where the love of Christ feels close enough to touch.
