In 2020, the regular structures that help us live a life of faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus were largely absent due to the global pandemic. Without access to the sacraments and our parish communities, our faith lives felt somewhat stripped back, laid bare. It was perhaps a ‘wake-up call’ for many of us—a call to reflect more deeply on our relationship with Jesus and be more attentive to nurturing its growth.
This Lent, our theme—Simply Jesus—is drawn from the story of the Transfiguration in Mark 9:2–10, our gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent. Having had their complacency shattered by an extraordinary and perplexing event, the disciples are left at the conclusion of this gospel with ‘only Jesus’. He is, in the end, simply all we need.
This year’s Lenten resources provide an invitation to reflect on the way and person of Jesus, renew ourselves in his love, and recommit ourselves to the path of discipleship.
The Way of the Cross—a guided multimedia reflection
This year we have developed a Way of the Cross resource, drawing predominantly on the Gospel of Mark. St Mark invites us to listen attentively to Jesus, the beloved Son of God, to look closely at his actions and faithfulness to his mission and, as disciples, to follow him decisively. Mark reveals that suffering is part of the journey, but Jesus’ way of love and fidelity promises us new life.
The resource features the work of the late Melbourne sculptor Leopoldine (Poldi) Mimovich, whose beautiful carved Stations of the Cross reside in the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Deepdene. They follow the scriptural Way the Cross inaugurated by Pope John Paul II rather than the traditional Stations many would be used to.
A series of reflections directly address Jesus as we accompany him on his journey from the Last Supper to the Resurrection. Drawing on both the gospel texts and Mimovich’s artwork, the reflections provide a meaningful way into the powerful story of his Passion, inviting a new or renewed intimacy with him.
Jesus’ final words in Mark’s Gospel are from Psalm 22: ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’) Other verses from this psalm are included at each station as a connecting prayer point and prompt for further reflection.
The Way of the Cross resource incorporates images, Scripture, music, reflection and prayer. It may be used by groups or individuals, in a parish or home setting, or in an online prayer forum (such as Zoom).
It can be watched online or downloaded below—for offline use in parishes and groups.
As you journey on the Way of the Cross, may this ancient form of prayer—for all times and for all seasons—invite and enable you to reflect, renew your faith and recommit your life to Jesus.
Easter Time e-Workshop
Tuesday 9 March, 7.45–9.15pm
This online workshop is an invitation to come together, pray and reflect on the way and person of Jesus, renew ourselves in his love, and recommit ourselves to the path of discipleship.
You are invited to join us online to:
- hear and be inspired by internationally renowned speaker Dr Mary Healy on the topic ‘Simply Jesus: An Easter Time Encounter’
- brainstorm ideas in ministry-specific groups
- take away practical suggestions for placing Jesus at the heart of parish life.
Parish leadership and staff, parish pastoral council members, ministry group co-ordinators, school leadership and interested individuals are encouraged to register.
Alternatively, parishes are invited to gather in person in their parish space, watch the online presentation together and then discuss the provided questions in their own group(s). This would require only one registration for all parish attendees.
Registration: free
To receive the online event link, please register individually or as a group at: www.trybooking.com/BOVXZ by Wednesday 3 March. More information can also be found on the flyer below.
Parish Templates
Encouraging a unified proclamation across the Archdiocese of Melbourne, our Lenten parish templates use the striking Rembrandt portrait Head of Christ and our 2021 Lenten theme, Simply Jesus, to provide parishes with options for:
- a prayer card (print friendly format)
- real estate boards
- PowerPoint holding slides
- accompanying graphics (parish bulletins, websites and social media).
Parish bulletin notice
To help parishes advertise Lenten resources and our common focus please find below a notice for parish bulletins:
Simply Jesus: Reflect. Renew. Recommit.
This Lent, across our archdiocese, we are being invited to reflect on the way and person of Jesus, renew ourselves in his love, and recommit ourselves to the path of discipleship. After a year where the regular structures that help us live a life of faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus were largely absent, we are encouraged to use Lent to reflect more deeply on our relationship with Jesus and be more attentive to nurturing its growth. To aid us in this, a Way of the Cross resource has been developed incorporating images, Scripture, music, reflection and prayer. The resource provides a meaningful way into the powerful story of Jesus’ Passion, inviting a new or renewed intimacy with him. Along with other resources, it can be accessed at: www.melbournecatholic.org/lent2021
