On March 30 students from St. Sylvester Catholic School performed their rendition of Angela Hunt's The Tale of Three Trees at Epiphany of Our Lord parish. It was performed a second time at St. Aidan Catholic Church on March 31 and again on April 1 at the Divine Infant Catholic School for the neighbouring elementary students.
Making their version unique, the group also integrated the Stations of the Cross into the work.

"Theatre always gives the chance to reflect on big ideas," said Emmy Szekeres Milne, a spokesperson for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. "The big idea of this play is that God has a plan for us all and that Jesus' sacrifice shows us love."

St. Sylvester Catholic School students perform their rendition of Three Trees lead by lead actor John Porathur, Grade 7, who played Jesus Christ. (Photo courtesy of the TCDSB)

The play tells the tale of three trees with dreams about what they want to be in the future. One hopes to be hold treasure, the other to become a powerful ship and the third to stay atop the mountain. But as the years pass and deforestation occurs, loggers cut down the former saplings' dreams.

According to creativebiblestudy.com, "each tree finds itself in a place they never desired to be, yet, in the end — 'God's love changes everything.' ”

Rather than having their dreams fulfilled, the trees become instruments of God by becoming Jesus' manger, the fishing boat He sailed in and the cross upon which He was crucified.

"In the end the trees realize they did reach their goal," said Szekeres Milne.

St. Sylvester Catholic School students perform their rendition of Three Trees lead by lead actor John Porathur, Grade 7, who played Jesus Christ. (Photo courtesy of the TCDSB)

The play not only engages the actors but is also "a way to centre students and staff on the sacrifice Jesus made for us."  

"Our mission as Catholics is to take what Jesus did for us and honour it by following the Golden Rule," said Szekeres Milne.