Lifeboats and backpacks, life jackets and black light space – with many creative ideas young people of the districts of Göttingen and Hildesheim laid out an interactive Youth Way of the Cross – following the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Five stations not only invite to remember the sufferings of Christ, but they examine the small and big ways of the cross in the middle of our lives. “The Way of the Cross is intended to become a very personal experience for young people”, emphasizes Fabian Mittmann, youth leader in Hildesheim. Therefore, visitors are inspired in many places to think and participate and can contribute their own thoughts, wishes and prayers.

Looking behind the facades

In a room illuminated with black light, at the station "carrying of the cross", visitors discover thoughts with which they often struggle in everyday life - from "Do you still love me?" to "Why does this have to happen to me? "That touched me," says Camilla from Southern Germany. "Here we look behind the facade of people and show what everyone in their heart is preoccupied with.” In addition, visitors can use a UV pen to write their worries on a Post-it and stick it on a large wooden cross: Jesus carried the cross on his shoulders out of love for all people - and even today Jesus takes our cross upon Himself!

Through Jesus' sacrifice we can shed what burdens us and at the same time draw from it what strengthens us. The latter is possible at the third station of the Youth Way of the Cross. A large cross with many backpacks rises up here. In some there are small gifts and good thoughts to take away.

"What do you do?"

The last station is Jesus' death. If you imagine this dark hour, violence and murder throughout the world come to mind - people can do a lot of evil. "How about you?" - "Would you help?" – “What do you do?” These are the questions that the last station asks with regard to help in emergency situations, environmental commitment and dealing with social media - a great strength of the interactive Youth Way of the Cross is the reference to current political events, be it "Fridays for Future" or refugee aid.

"The Way of the Cross translates the themes to our times. “It is not too biblical or too far away, but shows the reality", says Ines from Northern and Eastern Germany.

At the end it is clear: the cross is still a sign of hope today.