Our Lady of Pompeii to Present Living Portrayal of the Last Supper

A living portrayal from the pages of the Bible will take place when Our Lady of Pompeii Church,14450 Hwy. 442, Tickfaw holds its Last Supper re-enactment of Leonardo  da Vinci's "Last Supper" on Palm Sunday, March 24, 7 p.m. 

All are welcome, and admission is free.

"This re-enactment is a living dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting.  Each year, this dramatization is a truly moving spiritual experience.  It is as if da Vinci's painting has come to life," said director Virginia Patecek.  "Seeing the actors pose, especially when we dim the lights, takes my breath away."

The production involves readers acting as narrators providing the voices of the actors portraying Jesus and his 12 apostles in the events just before and during the Last Supper before Jesus' crucifixion nearly two throusand years ago.

Each narrator gives a brief background of each of the apostles providing a glimpse into that particular apostle's innermost thoughts when Jesus said that he would be betrayed by one of his own.  As Jesus and his 12 apostles walk out one at a time to sit at the table, the narrators vocalize the inner turmoil within each apostle's mind in a way in which the viewers can identify.

“This is a beautiful way to start off Holy Week, the last week to prepare for Easter,” said Virginia Patecek, director of the production since the first production at the church in 1999.

A friend of Patecek, Jean Voorhies, gave her the script which she adapted for this church production. Patecek had reservations that the hard-working men at her church may not be willing to do a little acting, but she gathered up enough courage to ask one day after church.

Patecek shared her concern of how she could convince any of the men at church to participate in the production, but God intervened.

“When I saw Albert LeMay coming down the stairs behind the church altar, I told him that I was thinking about doing a reenactment of “The Last Supper.” I asked, 'Do you think some of the men in church would be interested in doing a reenactment?' He said, 'Yes, I think so.' Never in a million years did I think that the men in Tickfaw would be willing to do this; I was floored that it was that easy.Looking back, I know Jesus had inspired them to spread his message of His deep forgiveness and love for all.”

In 2009, Patecek needed someone to portray Jesus, and one day in church, she saw someone with long dark hair who had the look she had in mind.

“I leaned over and told my husband George that I think I found my Jesus for the reenactment this year,” Patecek said.

Since 2009, Lawrence Joiner has portrayed Jesus in the church's reenactment ever since. 

"To all involved this this production, this re-enactment is a ministry, said Patecek. "In spite of life's troubles whether they be personal challenges or health issues, they keep coming back to this production."

Following the re-enactment, there will be a gathering and reception in the church hall to give everyone a chance to meet with the cast. Light refreshments and a variety of Lenten foods will be served.