The gym at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain is filled with a pathway of sawdust “carpets” that will be trampled by the faithful on Good Friday afternoon.
Until then, the public is invited to view the beautiful carpets that were created this week by parishioners. Each designed or chose a drawing for the carpet and submitted it to the parish. The sketches were enlarged proportionately and drawn on large pieces of paper. The panels were assigned locations on the pathway and parishioners spent the early part of the week completing their “carpet.”
(See photo gallery above.)
The panels were created using colorful, dyed sawdust, sand, flour and other items. Sometimes glitter was used to help set off the design. The sketches often were outlined in a dark color and the other materials were used to fill in the picture. Some people used plastic bottles filled with sand for smaller, more detailed areas. Others used their fingers to carefully place the materials onto the sketch.
When the panels were complete, borders were added to connect them.
Father Bill Thaden, Sacred Heart pastor, said after the Passion liturgy on Good Friday afternoon, the faithful process from the church into the gym carrying a shrouded figure representing the crucified Jesus. They follow the pathway, trampling and destroying the sawdust panels as they walk.
When they finish the pathway, the body is taken onto the stage and placed in a specially constructed “tomb,” which is sealed. This represents Jesus’ body being placed in the tomb.
The faithful then leave the gym in silence and parish volunteers sweep away the remnants of the panels.