It was one of the most moving events of World Youth Day, and three teachers from Sydney's Catholic schools got to be part of the world stage and captivate an audience of about half a million people.

They clustered near a stage they couldn't see to watch the story of their faith unfold.

Under a bleak sky, more than 500,000 young Catholics had already poured into Barangaroo to watch the re-enactment of Jesus' final hours before the event even got under way.

The dramatic Stations of the Cross re-enactment across 14 locations throughout Sydney began with a resounding "shhhhhhhh!"

The troupe of actors - which included three teachers from Sydney's Catholic schools¬¬ - brought thousands of Sydney-siders, including non-Catholics, to a halt.

"I wanted to watch it up close," said Anneke Thornton from Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer. But as she stood amidst an immovable crowd far from the stage, she accepted the inevitable display on the giant screen along the route.

"When the Stations arrived at Barangaroo, everyone was silent and watching in awe. It was truly spectacular," she said.

The stagecraft, a visually superb blend of colour, costume and high-tech design, won universal applause and moved many students and staff from Sydney's Catholic schools.

"The last Station of the Cross at Barangaroo touched me and many others greatly," added Mariah Iliffe, a Year 11 student from St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove.  "Seeing God's sacrifice for us brought tears to our eyes, along with the moments of silence to reflect, where you could not hear a sound."

Anita Finneran, a Religious Education teacher from Mariah's school, played one of the leading roles in the last Stations.

Playing the part of Mary Magdalene, she said that she that she felt moved as she saw Jesus approaching.

"I actually started to cry on stage because it felt really real. I felt like I was about to lose someone I loved dearly," she said. "But at the same time, I felt like I had to be a strong woman for Jesus' mother."

Despite feeling an intense sense of loss, suffering and grief, Anita says that the shared experience was a brilliant chance to explore her spirituality.

"It really highlighted our faith story and the purpose it holds for all Christian," she said. "You could feel the presence of God."

The Way of the Cross is an ancient tradition that began early in Christian history, as pilgrims visited Jerusalem to pray at the sites of Christ's suffering and crucifixion.