That Holy Week Fire

Captain Irseris Ortiz (in red jacket) directs the actors preparing to reenact a scene of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane for Holy Week at The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Photos/Lu Lu Rivera)

The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, takes the significance of Holy Week seriously.

It was a bitterly cold Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, some eight weeks before Resurrection Sunday. A recent snowstorm had dumped nearly 2 feet of snow outside, but inside the local Salvation Army chapel, a small group of songsters were busy preparing for Holy Week.

Major Sharon Cupp, the retired Salvation Army officer who was leading the choir, at one point abruptly paused rehearsal of a Palm Sunday song to share an emotional message.

“I want us to start thinking about everything that happened during Holy Week, preparing our hearts and minds,” she said. “What is Easter 2026? Is it something you will remember?”

The Resurrection season is something this Salvation Army church, led by Captains Ismael and Irseris Ortiz, takes very seriously every spring. The past five years have featured reenactments of the Last Supper, including foot washing, on the Thursday of Holy Week, along with a Friday devotional on the last seven words (or statements) of Jesus from the Cross.

Major Sharon Cupp, a retired Salvation Army officer, leads a choir that will perform on Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday at the Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army.

Washing someone’s feet in the time of Jesus was an act of hospitality. People wore sandals and walked along dirty and dusty roads, so hosts often washed a guest’s feet before they entered the home. When Jesus rose to wash His disciples’ feet during the Last Supper, it was seen as the ultimate act of humility; the incarnate Son of God washed the feet of the sinners He came to die for on the Cross just hours later.

Holy Spirit moments

Arwen Barba, 12, and most of her family were among 32 people taking part in last year’s foot washing ceremony. The event not only drew her closer to God during Holy Week but had a profound impact on her spiritual life.

“That was the first time I actually had an encounter with God,” she said.

During last year’s ceremony, Captain Irseris called her over to pray and her life was changed forever.

“I was hesitant at first, but then something pulled me over there and I just felt the Spirit of God when she was praying with me,” Arwen recalled. “It inspired me and I caught that fire. Since then, I’ve wanted to participate more at church. I’ve been praying more and looking for ways to improve myself. It’s just been so much better.

Captain Irseris Ortiz (left) gives direction to Arwen Barba, 12, playing Judas in a reenactment of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Arwen’s mother, Elizabeth, is helping with the sound production as a narrator.

“I’m looking forward to doing it again, and those are the times I’m encouraged by the Spirit of God.”

Elizabeth Barba, Arwen’s mother, has noticed a difference in her daughter, who started coming to the Kid’s Café at the corps three years ago. Arwen is now involved in Sunday school, Bible Bowl, and divisional youth programs.

“Arwen had a lot of questions and has grown spiritually,” her mother said. “She has a greater understanding of the background and customs from the Bible and what it means.”

A servant of all

Arwen’s older brother, 17-year-old Jack Barba, played the Apostle John in the Last Supper reenactment last year and was struck by the humility of Jesus washing feet.

“It showed me what it would be like to be the apostles at the table,” Jack said. “It showed me they were all equal and nobody was above anybody. Jesus didn’t seem like He was above them. He made it seem like He was below them.”

Elizabeth Barba said the Holy Week activities were awesome for her kids and for the community.

“It brought a lot of people in, and it was interesting to experience all the different people’s takes and to see how they reacted to everything,” she said. “It was a great learning experience to see something different than what I’m used to and to consider other people’s feelings and spirituality.”

Jack Barba runs the soundboard for the Holy Week activities at the corps.

Captain Irseris said almost everyone in the congregation of about 80 people gets involved in the Holy Week activities. The audience includes believers from other churches and beneficiaries from The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center.

Chris Winborn, a volunteer at the church, said he and his wife, Elizabeth, chose to wash each other’s hands, an option offered to those shy about taking off their shoes and socks.

“It made me feel a little closer to Jesus,” he said. “It made me think about what He did a lot more. We’re supposed to do everything Jesus did and emulate Him in any way we can. Humbling yourself shows who you are as a person, too.”

It’s about a relationship

Celine Colon read Scripture at last year’s events and found the music in both English and Spanish reflective, helping her have a deeper connection with God during Holy Week. Her mother, Cecilia, was especially touched by the dramatic presentation of the last seven words of Jesus.

“It was really impactful because my mom felt the Holy Spirit, and in that moment, I felt it too,” she said. “It was very exciting. I am much closer to Jesus than last year. I wasn’t attending church much, but in that moment I felt more connected to Him. And I feel my relationship with Him now is more powerful.”

Clara Perez attended last year just to listen, watch, and pray. She was moved by the foot washing and is now heavily involved at the church.

Captain Irseris Ortiz goes over details with the cast of a reenactment of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, takes Holy Week seriously.

“For me it was wonderful because I just started coming to church about a year ago, and watching the captains wash each other’s feet, I thought that was beautiful. The whole thing was beautiful to me,” Clara said. “I spiritually felt closer to God, and I’ve been coming and learning new things. They’ve brought me a long way.”

Yraisa Richard called the Holy Week events, most notably the foot washing, an amazing experience that renewed her spiritually.

“It was the first time I experienced anything like that,” she said. “It was special. It was something that touched my heart.”

Trying something new

This year, the corps will add two new elements to its Holy Week program: Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest, and Mary Magdalene going to the tomb the morning of the Resurrection and finding it empty.

“We want to do it a little different this year so that everyone continues to grow and to see Holy Week as something special,” Captain Irseris said.

“For us, it’s very important to know the life of Jesus on Earth. Yes, Jesus washed feet at the Last Supper, but why is that important? What does it truly mean for us? Jesus went to the garden and prayed, but what was the purpose? What does it mean for us in 2026?”

The church starts planning its Holy Week activities months ahead, and everything is reenacted in the chapel on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday before it all culminates with Resurrection Sunday.

“It’s a time for us to forget about everything and just put Jesus first,” Captain Irseris said. “He is central that week. We’re trying to show the community and the church that it is Holy Week.”

Captains Irseris and Ismael Ortiz lead the corps in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and want to make sure everyone knows the importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During rehearsal for Holy Week activities, two Roman soldiers, played by Celines Campos and Yahaira Tavares, prepare to arrest Jesus, played by Josue Campos.

Action and meaning

People who take part in Lent may choose to give up something during the 40 days leading to Resurrection Sunday. But Captain Irseris said she and her husband want everyone to know it’s not about our sacrifice, but His.

“That’s why we take it seriously because we want to show them the meaning of everything,” she said. “We try to put into action what Holy Week is about. Jesus came to die for our sins, and He rose again. It is not about us. It is about Jesus and what He can do for us.”

Captain Ismael said the church tries to cover everything from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection during Holy Week.

“Our folks here at the corps have embraced our Holy Week activities,” he said. “It’s the pinnacle of our year to look at the life of Jesus. We want them to take a deeper look into who Jesus is and why He did what He did.

“Easter is one of our major holidays. We’re Kingdom-minded, and because we are, I think we should really honor and celebrate the Lord during Holy Week.”