PILGRIMAGE TO
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY IN KELLYVILLE

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Mark 15:12-13, 15: Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." Pilate, wishing to satisfy the

crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Reflection: This is how it all begins, sentenced like a common criminal, accused of crimes he has not committed. Yet, our Savior humbly accepts the criminality of all of humanity placed on His shoulders as our Passover lamb. Just a few days previous, people from all walks of life were praising His name as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Now here they are, rejecting His name, casting blame on Him, and sentencing Him to die.

How often do we intentionally avoid opportunities for evangelization and Truth? Probably more than we’d care to admit. But, it is in these moments that we remember that Jesus willingly knows there

will be times in my life where I let Him down, and yet, he will still go to the Cross for me, for us! We are constantly reminded that even when we fall, there will be new opportunities in the future.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, we pray for boldness, strength, and courage for the opportunities that come our way. Give us the strength to stand up for what we believe in, because we never know what hangs in the balance of our decision to speak truth, even if the crowd is against us. We pray that God will be ever-present in our interactions with “the crowd” and to let His words be our words.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: John 19:16-17: The soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

Reflection: In the Gospel, we see Jesus handed over, mocked, and led away. And there is a moment that always hits deeply: the soldiers place the cross upon Him, and Jesus accepts it and carries it.

As Christians and followers of Christ, we’re not only invited to admire Jesus from a distance — we’re invited to follow His steps, to walk behind Him, and to learn His way of living and loving. In this station, Jesus teaches us something very real: He doesn’t run away from the cross. He picks it up.

And that becomes a strong invitation for each one of us today. What is the cross that God is inviting me to pick up right now? What are the events God has allowed in my life that I don’t like — the situations I wish were different, the parts of my history I wanted to change, the struggles at home, at work, in my family, in my relationships, or even inside my own heart?

This station reminds us that we are not alone. Jesus has gone first. He has carried the cross, suffered on it, and died on it — and today He is alive. That means we can receive His Spirit, and with His Spirit we can carry what we cannot carry on our own.

The cross, as painful as it may be, becomes the place where we meet Jesus. It becomes the instrument God uses to draw us closer to Him. It is the place where we can find rest — not because it is easy, but because we know that Jesus is the one carrying it with us and for us.

So as we walk this pilgrimage together, let us not be afraid to look at our own crosses with honesty.

And let us ask for the grace to accept them, embrace them, and even love them — not because we

enjoy suffering, but because Jesus is there, and because He can bring resurrection and new life out of what looks like death.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, in this second station we contemplate You as You take up the cross placed upon You. You did not reject it — You accepted it, and You carried it for love of us.

Today, Lord, help us to see which cross You are inviting us to pick up. In the moments of difficulty at home, at work, and within our families, send us Your Holy Spirit, because we cannot do this on our own.

Remind us that we are not alone. You have carried the cross first. You suffered and died — and today You are alive.

Give us the grace to accept, embrace, and love our crosses as You have done, and to find rest in You, knowing that You are the one carrying us.

May our crosses lead us to You, and may they open the way to resurrection and eternal life, which You have granted for us.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Philippians 2:8: And being found in human form, Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: Jesus set a wonderful example of humility, steadfastness, fortitude, faithfulness, and complete surrender to the will of the Almighty. However, human pride and selfishness often cause many people to suffer. When life doesn't go as expected, for example due to uncertainty caused by natural disasters, pandemics, or war, it often causes people to stumble or fall into darkness, feeling disappointed, angry, sad, looking for shortcuts or temporary escapes and turning away from God, the source of true strength. How can we be humble enough to trust in the Almighty as Jesus did?

Prayer: Oh, The Supreme One, let us only connect to You through Jesus Christ. Let only Your divine power work in us. We realize that we are nothing without You. Please free us from the shackles that prevent us from being united with You through Jesus. Forgive us when we are still grumbling, not

really trusting in You, Lord. Help us cleanse the darkness that still clings within, such as pride, fear, anxiety, disappointment, etc. May all of Your creations always be healthy, harmonious in their relationships, abundant in prosperity, and spiritually enhanced in accordance with their worthiness and according to Your will. Every moment, wherever we are, we radiate more love and peace that creates a safe, comfortable, and meaningful environment. Let us live our lives more sincerely,

surrendering ourselves completely to You.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Luke 2:34-35: Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, Jesus’ mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Reflection: A profound moment of shared suffering and love Jesus, you have been scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked and forced to carry the cross when your eyes meet your Mother’s. We feel her pain – the crazy, blinding, breathsucking grief of a mother witnessing the suffering and death of her

child.

Your Mother is helpless to relieve any of your physical torments but what comfort and strength you must gain from her presence, her loving gaze and heartfelt prayer.

Thirty-three years before, Simeon had prophesied the sword that is to pierce your heart and likened your Mother’s anguish to a sword piercing her soul.

As Joan Chittister writes in The Way of the Cross. Mary is the constant in Jesus’ life. Mary who herself braved the negative reactions of both religion and culture to have this child, refuses to deny him

now. Love for the outcast is the gift she brings to the moment. She does nothing to hide her love nor her continuing commitment. They have leaned on one another all their lives. No way to change that now. They will simply suffer this cataclysmic moment together, she for him, he for her, both of them for the sake of the world which they serve.

Prayer: Jesus grant me the faith and strength to trust that in the darkest times of my life, You are with me, as your Mother was with you on your journey to Calvary and death.

Grant me the empathy and compassion to accompany others through their hard times.

Grant me the courage to live my life as bravely as Mary did and all those who accompanied you to your death.

Mary, Mother of God, be with me, now , in my darkest times and at the hour of my death.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Luke 23:26: As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Reflection: Simon is mentioned in three of the Gospels and his two sons, Alexander and Rufus, are named in the Gospel of Mark. We are told that he is from Cyrene, in modern day Libya, but found himself in Jerusalem for Passover and part of a most sombre procession. He helps a man in the last moments of his life.

Jesus must carry his cross to a hill just outside the city wall. After his scourging and torture following the betrayal at Gethsemane, Jesus is too weak to bear the weight of the cross. Simon is induced to carry it for him. Was there something about Simon that made him easily identifiable as a foreigner? Perhaps his clothes? Perhaps the colour of his skin? Is that why he was chosen?

A faltering, stumbling, uncertain step causes the first fall of Jesus. He is pale and weakened as he tries to rise and resume his heavy uphill effort. His eyes meet those of Simon at the moment when he could no longer bear the burden. Is there a flash of recognition? Do they know each other? Does each discern himself in the other?

He never spoke a word to me, And yet He called my name;

He never gave a sign to me, And yet I knew and came.

(From ‘Simon the Cyrenian Speaks’ by Countee Cullen, 1924)

As Jesus fell, the centurion on duty pressed Simon into service. Whether Jesus was again carrying the cross when he fell a second time, and a third, we are not told. But we can assume that the centurion would not have let Simon go. Simon must have been confused, distressed, afraid. But Simon, the

outsider, shared Jesus’s burden and walked with Jesus until the end of the journey.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Simon was.

Did Simon inspire Alexander and Rufus as a result of his improbable, life-defining experience? Or were they already followers? Were they, the two sons, with him that day?

When the procession reached Golgotha, Simon had blood on his hands and arms and shoulders and back - the blood of Jesus which had stained the cross and spread to Simon, blessing him and his

memory forever in a new covenant.

Do I look at Simon as having had the good fortune to be on hand when the Roman soldiers were looking for somebody to shoulder Jesus’s cross? I wonder if I would have been up to doing what Simon did. I would quite probably have failed in many respects to be a worthy follower of Jesus, denying Jesus as Peter did and doubting as Thomas did. And yet I know that I can carry any cross if I truly allow Jesus to share my burden.

Adapted from a reflection on the Fifth Station by my father, George Boffa.

Prayer: The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all- knowing eyes, understood with His Divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

- St Francis de Sales

Jesus, grant me the strength to rely on you when my burden is heavy, and the willingness to help others bear theirs.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Matthew 10:40,42: He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the

one who sent me. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Reflection: How often do we have the courage to speak out as Christians? Do the people we meet know by our actions that we believe in your message of Love ?? Or are we just another one of the crowd, no different from those who never knew you ??

Prayer: Lord open our eyes. Help us to see ourselves as others see us. Forgive us for not making you present to the people we come in contact with each day. Lord shed the light of your truth on our every action. Strengthen us to be different as we prove by our lives that we believe in you .

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: 1 Peter 2:23-24: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he

suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself

bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Reflection: Jesus fell for the 2nd time, bearing the weight of our sinfulness and the burdens of life. We are comforted and encouraged knowing that Jesus himself persevered by putting his trust in the father. In all of the burdens we experience and all the shame we feel from our sin, knowing that it is our sin he carried on his shoulders, we need not despair, knowing that through Jesus’ suffering, we are granted the grace to put our trust in God and to persevere in love.

Prayer: Jesus, in the burdens and heaviness of life and my sin, in all the times I fall, help me to put all of my trust in you, help me to follow in your example of perseverance. Help me to do this knowing that you yourself have carried the weight that I carry.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world

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Gospel: Luke 23:27-28 [As Jesus walked toward Golgotha], a large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him; and he turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me…for behold, the days are coming...”

Reflection:

The Eighth Station depicts the encounter between Jesus and a group of women from Jerusalem who express their sorrow and compassion for Him as He continues to carry the heavy cross.

We learn from this exchange that Christ never focused on himself, even during his excruciating Passion. He always thought about the suffering of other people. He thought of the people who mocked him, and the weeping women of Jerusalem.

Instead, Jesus encourages them to weep for themselves and their children, understanding that the true sorrow lies in the consequences of sin and the need for genuine repentance.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to know that when we make mistakes, Jesus always looks at us with compassion. We must not be afraid as Jesus is always ready to embrace us with tender love.

We are called to imitate Christ when we suffer. Instead of being focused on our own feelings of sorrow, let us aim to rise above ourselves and focus on the needs of others.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Psalm 22:14: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

Reflection: Jesus, you were forced to carry the weight of the cross, it is our sins you carried and sanctified us. You did not give up. Though exhausted, you persevered. You showed us how to be faithful and dignified under the most horrific circumstances. You so loved us, you endured suffering and death on a cross. You revealed God’s unconditional love for us, and everlasting life.

The power of this station is not just in the falling but in the getting up. When I am exhausted and feel like giving up, give me the grace to rise again, just as you did.

Lord, when I fall into despair, remind me of your unfailing love and your desire to lift me up, strengthen me with your grace to reach the end of my journey.

Prayer: Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life, give us strength and forgiveness, help us carry our cross and follow you.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: Mark 15:19: Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. They stripped off his clothes and began to mock him, saying: “All hail, King of the Jews.”

Reflection: Jesus has held up to the pain and suffering the soldiers have put him through but they remain drunk in their own power of superiorly over him, and they want more. They are unmoved by his appearance no looks to attract our eyes left merely as a "thing" to be despised and rejected by men. They have not hesitated to strip off his blood stained garments leaving him naked as a mark of shame and humiliation. Even in their desperate attempt, they had not succeeded, for Jesus' worth did come from rank or reputation but his trust in God that never wavered but sustain ed him. Their harshness did not break his spirit of perseverance to saves us and bring us closer to Gad the

uppermost thing on his mind.

Prayer: We appreciate the dialogue between father and Son, that the only way to excuse judgment of our scarlet sins was to penalize you Jesus for them. You have made this journey a love story never to be repeated in biblical history again, so help us Jesus to walk in grace and meekness when we face trials in our lives, always remembering what you did for us.

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: John 17:19: Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Reflection: Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross. He was in such excruciating pain and yet He was silent. He suffered patiently because he suffered for me.

How do I act in sufferings and in troubles? How impatient, how full of complaints I am!

O Lord I will suffer pains and sorrows in this world to please you, your will be done, I commit my destiny to you resigning myself to your holy will in all things.

Prayer: My sweet Lord, I thank you for having suffered so much and dying on the Cross for love of me. O admirable Redeemer, through the merits of Thy passion save my soul. Wounded Heart of Jesus have mercy on us. Most Precious Blood of Jesus save us ! Mother of Sorrows pray for us!

 We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: John 19:28-29: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received

the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Reflection: If anyone should ask “what is certain in life and death – the answer is the love of Christ”. Life teaches us this – not people, not even the best and dearest – not science or philosophy or art or other product of human genius. Only through Christ do we know that God’s love is forgiving.

Certain is only that which is manifest on the Cross. What has been said so often and so inadequately is true – “The heart of Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end of all things”.

Romano Guardini

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who did ascend to the Cross for the redemption of the world, and did shed your precious Blood for the remission of our sins: grant, we humbly ask you that at our death. We may joyfully enter the gates of Paradise. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

 We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: John 19:33-34: When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

Reflection: The Thirteenth Station of the Cross brings us to a moment of profound sorrow and quiet tenderness. Jesus has breathed His last, and His body is taken down from the Cross and placed in the arms of His Mother. The suffering and brutality of the Crucifixion give way to a sacred stillness. Mary receives the broken body of her Son with a love that does not waver even in the face of

unimaginable grief.

This moment reveals a deep truth about Christian love: true love remains faithful even when

everything appears lost. Mary does not turn away from the suffering of Christ; she embraces it. Her arms become a place of compassion, reverence, and unwavering devotion.

Few saints understood the mystery of Christ’s suffering as deeply as St. Francis of Assisi. His entire spiritual life revolved around contemplating the love of Christ revealed on the Cross.

Francis did not see the Cross merely as a symbol of suffering, but as the greatest expression of divine love. He was known to weep when reflecting on Christ’s Passion, overwhelmed by the thought that God would endure such suffering for humanity.

Late in his life, while praying on Mount La Verna, Francis received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, in his own body. It was as if his meditation on the Passion had drawn him so close to Jesus that he

began to physically share in His suffering.

Yet Francis did not seek suffering for its own sake. Rather, he desired to love as Christ loved— completely, humbly, and without reserve.

The Thirteenth Station reflects this Franciscan spirituality beautifully. When Jesus is taken down from the Cross, His body bears the marks of sacrificial love. For Francis, these wounds were not signs of

defeat but of redemption.

For us during Lent, this station invites a pause so we can draw nearer to the Cross. It teaches us that discipleship sometimes means remaining present in moments of sorrow, loss, and silence. The world often moves quickly past suffering, but the Thirteenth Station asks us to stay, to contemplate, and to hold the mystery of sacrificial love.

Like Mary, we are called to hold the suffering of Christ with reverence.

Like Francis, we are called to contemplate the depth of Christ’s love until it transforms our hearts.

In a world that often avoids pain, this station reminds us that God entered fully into human suffering. The Cross is not the end of the story, but the doorway through which resurrection will come.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as Your body was placed into the arms of Your Mother, the world seemed wrapped in grief and silence.

Teach us to remain with You in these sacred moments. Give us the heart of Mary, who loved You even in sorrow, and the heart of Francis, who saw Your wounds as signs of perfect love.

May this Lenten journey draw us closer to Your Cross so that our lives may reflect Your mercy, humility, and sacrifice.

 We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Gospel: John 19:38-41 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he

came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the

garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Reflection: Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea both knew the Jewish law and the leaders well.

They were each also quietly learning Jesus’ teachings, and noticing some differences. Though they had been wary of raising suspicion while Jesus was alive, their courage grew and when they heard of Jesus’ terrible death they acted with determination: Jesus deserved the respect of a lawful burial, and for Nicodemus and Joseph, also being wrapped with ointments and spices befitting royalty.

We can’t help noticing that while Jesus was alive they were hesitant to make their interest public.

However, the Twelve disciples were well known as followers of this Jesus whose disruptive message of love threatened the fragile status quo of Roman power over everyone, and Jewish authority over the People of God.

But through Jesus’ trial and crucifixion most of the twelve fell away in fear and amid the shattering of their hopes for Jesus to become king.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, on the other hand, found the courage of their quiet and

growing convictions to act decisively and in broad daylight, with love and respect for the one who was unjustly killed. We also might notice that Pilate ultimately concludes his role on a positive note, explicitly permitting Jesus’ clandestine disciple to take away his body. ^**

At this station Joseph and Nicodemus deal carefully with Jesus’ body taking it from the cross and

wrapping it in linen, oils and spices. They do not expect the temporary resting place to be sufficient.

John tells us they laid Jesus in the tomb, as if a king who is merely asleep. Within days, no resting

place will be needed for him, and he will “take up again” (John 10:18) the life he gave “for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

If we hold to our suspicions and fears like Pilate, can we quietly recognise our mistake in the face of something we don’t understand?

Maybe we do all these things at different times.

Do we hope to act with the best faith we have, speaking of Jesus’ love, despite not understanding what is to come, or do we let that uncertainty bar us from such commitment?

Prayer: Jesus, laid carefully in the tomb, live in our hearts and help us to always act for you with courage and resolve.

** With thanks to Brendan Byrne, Life Abounding: A reading of John’s Gospel, 2014, 325-326