Last chance to join the Pilgrimage to Oberammergau for Passion Play
Are these people in Oberammergau, crazy?! – I thought, sitting in a small coffee shop next to the Theater. At the foot of the Kofel massif with the cross on its top, at an altitude of 1,342 meters, the present day does not count, it is only a passing illusion. Globalization has no access to this town here, not even an internet café. Only this special madness counts - the Mystery of the Lord's Passion, the staging of the last five days of Jesus' life. It is an event which, from May to October, attracts tourists from all over the world to the beautiful surroundings of the German Alps of Oberammergau.
The Mystery of the Passion is almost the raison d'etat here. As half of the town performs in this spectacle for 5 months, the slightest modification in its layout causes passionate discussions and analysis. Sometimes even a referendum is needed to resolve them. Recently, the question of whether everything can be changed in such a way as to show the Mystery at night, and not during the day, was put to a referendum.
800 actors on stage. Out of 5,000 inhabitants of the town, 2,400 take part in the staging (even as extras). This Passione theater is at the same time a testimony to theatrical passion and the staging of the Passion. Perhaps Oberammergau is the most unusual place in Bavaria. And maybe in the world. Because what is happening there is nowhere else. In Oberammergau, they don't talk about the years, but about the theater seasons.
The role of Jesus cannot be played by people who were not born in Oberammergau, have not lived here for at least 20 years or have not married a local girl. 800 or even a thousand people perform on stage at the same time. Sometimes also a horse or a camel. This spectacle connects centuries and epochs like a golden thread, it hides a peculiar founding myth of the town.
Twice this year, I have already participated in this incredible experience of the Lord's Passion. The Lay Institute organized several pilgrimages to Oberammergau. This is the last Chance to join us. The Pilgrimage will be from August 8 to August 22, 2022. We will start our journey in Europe in Munich and end in Rome with Holy Father Francis. Obviously, the center of our pilgrimage is Oberammergau.
Please join us and experience the amazing performance of the Lord's Passion.
We enclose the Program and Registration form
Deadline for applications is July 1, 2022
Fr. George J. Bobowski
The Lay Institute of Divine Mercy, Inc.
419 N Larchmont Blvd. #41
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: 323/449-9014