Leopoldo Magana, portraying Jesus Christ, re-enacts the Passion of Christ, as parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel participate in a Good Friday procession to commemorate the Stations of the Cross in Mossyrock on Friday afternoon.
Speaking softly into a megaphone, Leopoldo “Leo” Magana led the faithful up the hillside, offering prayers and meditations to God. He walked just ahead of his son, Leopoldo Magana Jr., who, in a long wig and fake beard carried the cross up the hillside while being lightly whipped by Roman soldier Gustavo Rueda.
For more than 15 years, area Catholics have come to DeGoede Bulb Farm in Mossyrock to walk, pray and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice at 12 different stations as they climb to the tall white cross on top of the hill. About 60 people gathered under a blue sky at DeGoede Bulb Farms and Gardens to celebrate this year’s Good Friday.
Bob DeGoede walked near the back of the group, stopping occasionally to offer help to a young mother pushing a stroller. Nearly 20 years ago his father, Henry DeGoede, built and commissioned the trail, 12 stations and the cross when he was in his early 70s. The inspiration came from a similar Stations of the Cross trail in Yugoslavia.
“He was a visionary, a real go-getter.” Bob DeGoede said with an easy laugh. “Anytime he said he had an idea the whole family got nervous.”
Henry DeGoede paid for most everything from his own pocket, with some money coming from the farm. The DeGoedes and Magana families did most of the hauling and digging, an artist in Chehalis painted the tile murals, a bricklayer friend built the stations and the cross base. The concrete cross was poured on the hilltop. It took two 40-ton cranes to lift it into place.
After the trail was finished, Henry DeGoede led groups every year until he passed away a couple years ago. His close friend Leo Magana has led them ever since.
“At first it was maybe five or six people from my family that came,” Magana said. “Then in 2000 things took off.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at the bottom of the hill is built in a Southwestern style; the signs and stations up the hill read in English and in Spanish. Save the DeGoedes, the entire group was Hispanic.
Bob DeGoede said his father built the trail and chapel as an homage to the migrant workers that helped make his farm successful.
“He had great respect and admiration for the Hispanic community and their faith,” Bob DeGoede said.
Faith is a central part of Leo Magana’s life. Leading up to yesterday’s event, Magana, his son, and Rueda prayed every Thursday and practiced their performances every Friday during Lent.
He came to the United States as a migrant worker in 1980, then he became deathly ill just two years later.
“One night I thought I was going to die, then I felt God come to me” he said. “My faith was hardened after that.”
He’s led the Stations of the Cross procession ever since the elder DeGoede passed away. He plans on continuing to do so as long as he can.
“In many other parts of the world they do this as a tradition. We do this out of pure faith,” Magana said.
