Building the Cross: Faith and Craftsmanship for Good Friday

Building the Cross: Faith and Craftsmanship for Good Friday

On Good Friday, the most solemn day of the Christian year, the cross stands at the center of our worship—a powerful reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and love. This year, that symbol will take on even deeper meaning as members of the men’s Bible study present a hand-built wooden cross, crafted using traditional techniques to reflect the way crosses were made in the first century.

The project began as an idea from Father Andreis and Father Tom: to create not just a visual symbol, but a shared act of devotion. By building the cross with hand tools—without modern machinery—the process itself became a form of reflection, inviting those involved to slow down and consider the weight and meaning of the cross in a tangible way.

Through the generosity of Florida Cypress, two large cypress logs were donated for the project. From there, more than 14 men—and one woman—came together over several weeks to shape the wood. Using axes and a method called hang hewing, they carefully stripped the bark and formed the beams, later refining them with chisels and scorps. Each step required patience, cooperation, and care, reinforcing the communal nature of the work.

Once completed, the cross will not simply appear in the church. On Good Friday morning, members of the group plan to carry it together 1.2 miles from parishioner Randy Laco’s home to the church—echoing, in a small way, the physical burden carried by Christ.

In the end, this cross is more than wood and craftsmanship; it is a shared expression of faith, sacrifice, and remembrance for a community preparing to enter into the solemnity of Good Friday.