Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Fourteen adult actors and more than 25 support staff are preparing for the third annual “Back From the Dead” cemetery walk at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Lincoln. The event, scheduled for late October, is designed to help participants reflect on themes of death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Adults and older teens aged 15 and up are invited to take part.

The walk guides participants through the cemetery where they encounter actors portraying martyrs, saints, and other figures who have "come back from the dead" to encourage living according to Christian teachings. Blake and Cheryl Winter of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln organize the event after attending a similar walk in Maryland three years ago.

This year, members of the Winter family visited Italy as part of a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage and prayed at the graves of two saints featured in this year's walk: St. Carlo Acoutis and Blessed Bartolo Longo. Cheryl Winter said she asked these saints to intercede for both attendees and volunteers.

The outdoor walk covers half a mile in darkness with a guide and lasts about one hour and twenty minutes. Walks are scheduled for October 24, 26, 27, and 29 with groups departing every fifteen minutes from St. Charbel Chapel between 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Organizers note that the event is not accessible for those with disabilities or poor night vision due to its physical demands. For those unable to participate outdoors, two indoor performances without walking will be held on All Soul’s Day (November 2) at St. Charbel Chapel at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., which is handicapped accessible.

Last year’s event saw about three hundred attendees; organizers expect four hundred this year.

During the walk, participants are reminded of mortality while characters teach about divine providence, mercy, love, martyrdom courage, sainthood holiness, and spiritual risk according to Catholic doctrine. Priests will be available each evening or afternoon for confessions on site.

While some returning characters will appear from last year’s program, most figures introduced this year are new.

The original BFTD walk was created by Father Brian Nolan of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. All scripts used by actors have received an imprimatur—permission to print—and nihil obstat—certifying alignment with Church Doctrine—and have been reviewed by Msgr. Timothy Thorburn of the Diocese of Lincoln.

Attendance is free but requires advance ticket reservation due to limited space; registration can be completed online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/calvarybackfromthedeadcemeterywalk2025 . Free-will offerings will be accepted.

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