Clad in polo shirts, jeans, sports coats and ties, men from St. Patrick Catholic Church rehearsed their annual Living Last Supper Sunday afternoon.
Shortly into the 50-minute play, even with the man portraying Jesus on spring break and two of the 12 apostles missing, the men were transformed. The power of the words and the emotion behind them transcended modern clothes, missing performers and an empty sanctuary.
This is nothing compared to the power of the live performance, in costume with a standing room only crowd entranced by the drama.
"Every year, people are basically blown away," said Pat Cline, who has portrayed Simon the Zealot for the past eight years. "It deepens their faith, they come away with excitement and it's very emotional for many people — I know my father attended every year, he passed away in April, and he was in tears at the end of the presentation."
Based on a script that former parishioner Joyce Odell's mother performed with her church in Florida, Odell directed the play locally for two years before she left the area. Perrie Knorr and John Baynton are directing in tandem this year after Knorr held the duties solo for two years.
The men of St. Patrick have performed the play since 1999. The first six years, they presented on Holy Thursday, three days before Easter. Last year, organizers changed the performance date to the evening of Palm Sunday, which reduced conflicts with Holy Thursday activities at other churches.
Every year, attendees at the Living Last Supper come from beyond their parish and the Catholic faith.
"We invite the entire community, we do seem to draw in people of various backgrounds and denominations," noted Cline. "We spread the Catholic faith and the good news of Jesus Christ, we call all people to a closer walk with Christ."
The Living Last Supper focuses on a short period during a Passover celebration with Jesus and his apostles, just after Jesus announced that "one of you will betray me" before dawn. After those shocking words, each Apostle in turn recounts his time with Jesus, reviews his faith and agonizes that he may be the traitor: "Is it I? Is it I?"
While one by one the Apostles speak, the others stay frozen in a tableau based on Leonardo da Vinci's depiction of the Last Supper. Their poses and gestures, props and costumes are drawn from that famous wall-sized fresco completed in 1498.
"This is my second year here and it is a beautiful tradition," said Rev. Bill Lipscomb. "It's a good preparation for Holy Week."
The majority of the cast has been involved for many years, with six participating all eight years. The group is very tight knit, bonding beyond their three months of rehearsals and one intense week before the performance. Busy professionals and novices to the stage before this, they give up family time to make the Living Last Supper happen for the community.
Portraying Jesus or an Apostle has been a life-changing experience for each man involved, deepening his own faith as they share with others.
"It moves us in so many different ways," said John Baynton, who portrays Judas.
Cline reflected on the context of what he calls the "mountaintop" experience of presenting the annual play. He and the other participants have found that the Living Last Supper deepens their commitment to year-round ministry and Christian service.
"To evangelize, that's not where the work gets done," said Cline, who is involved with a jail ministry at Pugsley Correctional Facility. "It gets done in the valleys, that's where the people are."
The Living Last Supper will be presented on Sunday, April 9, at 7 p.m., though organizers recommend arriving early. St. Patrick Catholic Church is located on 630 West Silver Lake Road South. A free will offering will be taken.