Lifesize statues of Jesus proposed for along Fort Wayne trail
Jan 14, 2025
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church proposed a new art installation at the Fort Wayne Plan Commission meeting Monday.
The proposal would bring the stations of the cross to a trail parallel to Aboite Center Road that runs along the church, which is located in southwest Fort Wayne.
A map of the proposed statues.
“The stations of the cross are 14 significant points in Jesus Christ's crucifixion scene and leading up to that crucifixion scene,” said Father Jake Schneider. “There are all these traditional points to meditate on to see the significance of what Jess did in his last minutes before cruxifiction.”
The stations provide an avenue to pray through Jesus' final day before being crucified, something the church hopes will bring attention to their beliefs.
An example of one of the statues.
“Maybe [with] the power of even just seeing these signs, people might be led in a spiritual way to ask: 'Who is this man, what is he doing and why did he die in this way?'” Schneider said. "They might led to talk about them with others or even go into the church to see more and to find more about who this man Jesus is."
Planning documents indicate the dimensions of the statues are life size being, "around 5' with crucifixion at 8'."
One woman did bring concerns about the project at Monday’s public hearing, voicing her disdain for the statues.
The Fort Wayne Plan Commission will take a vote on allowing the project in two weeks.