The combined youth ministries of the Church of St Francis Xavier (SFX) in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia hosted an overnight Lenten vigil on 11 and 12 April. Unprecedented in both scope and scale for the community, the vigil was the first of its kind ever seen at the church.

Inspired by the renowned Oberammergau Passion Play, the vigil offered young people aged 16 to 25 an immersive journey through the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life. Drawing from John 3:16 – “Will You Stay Awake With Me?” attendees witnessed moving depictions of the Last Supper, Passion, Death, and Entombment, thoughtfully staged across diverse settings, utilising both indoor and outdoor areas of the church grounds.

In particularly confronting segments, participants were challenged to symbolically stone Jesus during his journey and become part of the crowd calling for His crucifixion, prompting deep personal reflection. Interspersed with these dramatic portrayals were praise and worship sessions and contemplative Taizé prayer, which guided participants through the emotional and spiritual arc of the night. The visually captivating experience was further enhanced by costumes, life-size sets, a specially constructed 12-foot by 6-foot cross, dynamic lighting, and evocative music scoring and sound that created a deeply spiritual and atmospheric journey.

This ambitious, large-scale production was entirely conceived, planned over six months, and executed by the SFX youth. It left a lasting impact on the youth and the wider parish community, setting a new benchmark for youth-led initiatives at SFX.

Fr Alvin Ng SJ, Spiritual Director for the event, reflected on the experience:

“Witnessing our youth pour their hearts into bringing the Lord’s Passion to life, including the challenging interactive moments and periods of beautiful prayer, was truly inspiring. This vigil wasn’t just a play; it was an invitation for everyone, especially our young people, to enter more deeply into the mystery of Lent and encounter Christ’s profound love and sacrifice in a powerful, personal way. The successful execution of an event of this magnitude showcased the capabilities and commitment of the youth of today.”

Reflecting on his role as Jesus, Duncan Joshua Dennis, said:

“Embodying Jesus, especially His vulnerability during the Passion, while surrounded by peers involved in these intense, interactive scenes, was humbling. It pushed me beyond just acting. There was a tangible connection, a shared spiritual energy throughout the night. My prayer was simply to be a conduit for His message, hoping everyone felt that personal call to ‘Stay Awake With Me’ deep in their hearts.”

Participants also shared the moments that moved them most deeply throughout the night. For Calvin Anak Nyibos, it was the Taizé, “especially the examination of conscience, when we wrote all our sins on the paper. Somehow I felt humbled that I could name my wrongdoings and surrender them to God tonight.”

Others were struck by the Washing of the Feet. Justin Heng Jin Ming shared, “I felt the feeling of unworthiness, but also God’s immense love for us—that He chose us. The person washing our feet was Jesus Himself through His representatives.”

Samuel Lee described the moment he walked alongside Jesus carrying His cross as the most impactful part for him: “Seeing how He was whipped and dragged by the Roman soldiers—it was heartbreaking. He took our place, and that sacrificial love moved me deeply.”

The symbolic act of throwing paper stones—representing personal sin—struck a chord with Amelia Xaviour, who reflected, “No matter how much negativity we throw at Jesus, the only thing He gave us back was love. It moved me, and it taught me something I want to live by—to respond with love, always.”

During the Crucifixion scene, Joel Elviron Sitorus felt the message come alive: “I’ve heard the Passion story many times before, but after seeing it in real life, it changed something within me. I feel like I’ve become more faithful after this.”

And for some, it was the stillness afterwards that brought the message home. Mary Joanne James said, “The most impactful part for me was the discussion session. It allowed me to reflect properly on the play. Everything came back to me in that moment—that Christ sacrificed Himself, and now I can stand here free, free from my past sins.”