PIETY, PASSION : MARCH IN OXNARD BREATHES LIFE INTO EASTER MESSAGE.

Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer

Was that the wicked King Herod hanging a left on Cooper Street on Friday afternoon?

And was that was a formation of his uniformed soldiers following close behind?

And at the center of the crowd, lugging a wooden crucifix over his whip-streaked shoulder, was that - Jesus Christ himself?

No. But people playing those roles certainly looked the part on Good Friday for Via Cruces, the annual street ritual that marks the beginning of Easter celebrations for many Catholics.

For instance, you could clearly see the strain on the face of ``Jesus'' on the corner of Cooper and McKinley, when he dropped the cross and picked it right back up in front of the mercado selling hot tacos and sweet ice milk bars.

By the time the procession reached Our Lady of Guadalupe Church eight blocks away, more than 300 people had joined the procession.

The public display helps modern parishioners reconnect with the historic roots of their faith, said the Rev. Paco Legarra, who kept pace with the procession while dabbing his moist forehead with a handkerchief.

``It is the best way to understand the meaning of the day,'' Legarra said. ``Many people are not educated about the Bible. This not only lets them see it, it lets them be a part of it.''

The street ritual began on a makeshift stage outside Christ the King Church, as Jesus was condemned to death while parishioners dressed in burlap tunics wailed into microphones connected to speakers mounted on the roof of a Ford pickup. The group then began the slow march to the Crucifixion, making their way solemnly past the Telemex Radio Shop, the Buena Medical Farmacia and the Lavanderia.

Bringing up the rear of the group was a trio playing the role of Pharisees, who moved slowly in their long gowns. One of the Pharisees looked across the crowd and yelled at men watching from their porches with their eyes hidden by dark sunglasses.

``He's such a ham,'' said Hope Dominguez, wife of one Pharisee, who watched her husband's performance from a crowd toward the back. ``He's been practicing all the time. This means a lot to him.''

In past years, her husband has grown a beard especially for the passion play, Dominguez said. But this year, the beard was fake. And this year, the Pharisee enlisted one of his daughters to trail alongside with a big cup of water. It gets hot under that beard, she said.

While the pageant has its lighter side, Dominguez said it is an occasion for sincere reverence by many parishioners.

``Within the crowd there are a lot of people who walk with a lot of devotion,'' she said. ``You don't notice them because they're praying and walking quietly.''

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Saul Aguilar plays the role of Jesus on Friday during a re-enactment of the crucifixion in Oxnard.

(2--color) Performers cry as Jesus is tormented. The re-creation moved from Christ the King Church to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

(3--ran in CONEJO edition only) Actors re-create Jesus' crucifixion during a re-enactment put on by area churches Friday in Oxnard.

Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News