Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of John

Pilate asked him, ‘Are you a king, then?’
Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world
for this one purpose, to speak about the truth.’ – John 18:37

Reflection

Imagine standing before Pilate – the representative of earthly power – a defendant in a sham trial that you can’t win. It is easy to imagine feelings of anger, fear, and despair. To imagine the desire to fight, flee, or surrender, as we all do when the odds seem overwhelming.

Yet despite unjust arrest and condemnation, Jesus is resolute. Strengthened by hope in his Father’s love, Jesus continues his lifelong mission: bearing witness to truth, and helping us understand that the truth of God’s love and mercy for all his children sets us free.

Prayer

Christ, our Saviour,
you remind us that the Cross is not the destination,
but the road towards Resurrection.
Fill us with your hope,
so that together we may walk with all who bear injustice’s burden,
witnessing to your truth and love.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. 
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ – Matthew 27:27-31

Reflection

The stripping and scourging of Jesus is an ugly scene. It reminds us of what fear and ignorance can do, and it begs to ask why humanity can persecute, deride, and belittle others. Surely there is no hope to be found in this Station.

Yet hope is found here. It is found in Jesus, whose dignity transcends ridicule – a God-given dignity which we all share too.

Even amid terrible treatment, Jesus shines a light on the emptiness of power symbols – the crowns and robes and titles – and reminds us that true power lies not in worldly might or cruel derision, but in God’s unconquerable love and mercy.

Prayer

Christ, our King,
led by your example and encouraged by your Spirit,
may we stand as active witnesses against injustice and cruelty.
May we be signs of hope and instruments of peace,
speaking your truth through the love we show to all.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Book of Micah

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. – Micah 7:8

Reflection

Jesus falls—the weight of the cross and the weight of our ignorance pressing down upon his shoulders. He knows what it means to feel the sting of stone against skin and the sting of rejection.

When we fall in our own lives—crushed by doubts, failures, or burdens too heavy to bear—we can find strange comfort in this image. As the Prophet Micah reminds us, and Jesus shows us, falling is never the final word. The true measure of strength isn’t in never stumbling, but in rising up again.

For Jesus, this is the first of three falls. Our falls and failures will also be many, but, like our Lord and Saviour we too rise, because God is our help and our hope.

Prayer

Christ our Lord,
You understand what it is to stumble:
the shock of falling, when we’ve been used to standing firm.
Help us to remember that stumbling only pauses our journey,
it doesn’t end it.
Strengthened by hope in your love and mercy,
we rise and walk on, with you.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed- and a sword will pierce your soul too’ Luke 2:34-35

Reflection

What must it cost Mary to hold to her promise to God in this moment? Seeing her son suffer, and knowing this is his path?

Letting children choose their own way is the hardest part of parenthood. Eventually, we must release their hands and let them walk forward alone.

I wonder if Mary communicated to Jesus in this meeting: ‘I know you were born for this. And I know you are frightened, but I will be with you, and I will stand by you until the end.’

I wonder if, despite being both grown man and God, seeing his mother gave Jesus a special courage. Mary helped shoulder his burden so he could lift the world’s.

Prayer

Blessed Mary,
through your trust in God, you brought about the salvation of the world.
Even in the darkest moments of your life, you trusted in God’s plan.
We put our trust in you, most faithful advocate.
Pray for us, that through your hopeful and courageous heart, we may draw closer to your Son.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection

Helping carry Jesus’ Cross to Calvary was probably not in Simon’s plans that day. And we can be sure that he wasn’t very happy about being pressed into service.

And yet, the encounter with Jesus had a profound effect on him.

How often do unplanned encounters and unexpected burdens in life bring about epiphanies and turning points we never expected? They expand our understanding and our hope. Amid confusion and doubt, we can trust that God has the future in hand.

Prayer

Christ, Wonder Counsellor,
you know our hearts and you are always working for our good.
Open our hearts to welcome the unexpected,
to turn hard lessons into moments of growth,
so we may always face the future with hope.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. –Matthew 25:40

Reflection

Amid the jeers, the revulsion, the pain, the humiliation, a kind face emerges from the crowd.

It is Veronica, whose brave yet gentle act, is a powerful sign of hope. She does not let despair overwhelm her desire to reach out and show love for the suffering servant. She believed her small action would bring relief, and, accepted and multiplied in the heart of Christ, it did that and much more.

Veronica’s gesture of kindness is a small act. A simple one. But in a hostile crowd, her faith and compassion must have shone for Jesus like a candle in the dark.

Prayer

Christ, man of sorrows,
in your moment of suffering,
Veronica’s gentle touch revealed divine love.
Grant us courage to show kindness
when the world turns away,
and to see your face in every wounded soul.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of John

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

Reflection

As Jesus falls again under the weight of the Cross, we see his humanity most clearly. Jesus, true God and true man, knows what it is to feel pain, knows what it is to suffer.

His second fall then, is a testament to the human struggle—and divine strength—of continuing forward when every step feels impossible.

Here is the profound mystery: in our own moments of crushing despair, when we feel we cannot take another step, Christ’s fall whispers hope. In his stumbling is our confidence strengthened, that in Christ we find understanding, mercy, and hope.

Prayer

Jesus, Word made flesh,
again you fell, and again you got back up.
When we stumble under the weight of despair,
may we turn to you in confidence,
finding the support and strength needed,
to rise again with hope.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke

A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ’ – Luke 23:27

Reflection

As Jesus nears Golgotha, the crowd continues to follow his laboured and stumbling steps. Within the crowd are hardened hearts, apathetic onlookers… and a small group of women who reveal their grief and love for Jesus through their tears.

Grief is a painful emotion. It can lead to despair. Many are uncomfortable with grief; they try to avoid it. Yet as an expression of compassion for the suffering of others, collective grief can be a powerful sign of solidarity, love, and hope. Together we can carry the bereaved into a bearable tomorrow.

Jesus’s response to the weeping women widens their compassion further. He tells the women not just to weep for him, but for each other and for their children. For Christ, compassion must move beyond the individual. We are to show compassion and share the grief of all who suffer.

Prayer

Compassionate Christ,
in moments of deep sorrow,
teach us to stand with those who suffer,
to offer love when words fail,
to share hope through solidarity and care.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the letter of James

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

Reflection

As Jesus falls again, we are powerfully reminded that perseverance is not a one-time act but a continual choice. Each fall is heavier than the last, yet Jesus rises again, showing us that true endurance comes not from avoiding failure, but from drawing strength from faith and coming through it.

Like Jesus, we are called to endure with hope, knowing that each moment of struggle refines us, making us stronger and more complete. We trust that, in the end, through God’s grace and mercy, all will be well.

Prayer

Jesus our Redeemer,
in our deepest falls, renew our spirit.
Teach us to rise again and again,
finding grace in our brokenness,
transforming struggle into strength.
Let each rising be a prayer of hope.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of John

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ – John 19:23 – 24

Reflection

In this moment of ultimate vulnerability, Jesus is stripped bare. Yet even here, in complete exposure, divine love shines through. The seamless garment—woven whole, like God’s unbroken love—becomes a silent testament. They can divide his earthly possessions, but they cannot fracture the unity of his purpose.

In losing everything, Christ reveals everything. Each layer removed draws us closer to the heart of divine love. His humiliation becomes our pathway to understanding grace: that true glory is found in complete, fearless surrender.

Prayer

God of Infinite Love,
by your deepest vulnerability,
strip away our pretences, our armour
and all that separates us from you.
Help us surrender ourselves to you, with courage and hope.
So that we may stand, whole and honest, in your presence.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ – Luke 23:34

Reflection

In the most excruciating moment of rejection and pain, Jesus’ thoughts are of forgiveness. At the point of overwhelming human cruelty, divine mercy breaks through.

It’s here we see the essence of grace. Jesus fully absorbs our hatred and fear, feeling every moment of the agony. But from it, he creates compassion.

Unlike human justice, grace isn’t logical, fair, or rationed. It flows freely, breaking the cycle of retribution that binds humanity to violence. In our darkest hour, Jesus demonstrates the power of grace to convert suffering into mercy, hatred into compassion, and despair into hope.

Prayer

God of boundless mercy,
in our moments of deepest pain,
teach us to forgive as you forgive.
Transform our wounded hearts,
dissolve hatred with compassion,
and remake our suffering into grace.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of St Mark

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’ – Mark 15: 37-38

Reflection

At the very moment when all seems finished, things are beginning anew. Jesus breathes his last, the temple curtain tears, symbolically revealing what was once hidden: God’s direct, unmediated presence.
From the perspective of a hardened soldier, a profound transformation occurs. Tradition holds that, by witnessing Christ’s death, the Centurion Longinus sees divine truth.

Vulnerability and compassion can crack open the hardest human heart to let in redemption. In death, Jesus reveals life; in apparent defeat, ultimate victory.

Prayer

God of Love,
tear open the veils of our blindness.
Reveal your victory beyond defeat:
your life emerging from darkness,
hope breaking through despair.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of John

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. – John 19:33–35

Reflection

Standing at the foot of the Cross, John the disciple watches his beloved friend’s body taken down.

At this moment of deep loss and grief, John’s witness transforms tragedy into truth. He insists on his testimony, and invites us into it, understanding that bearing true witness to God’s love is a great act of hope for the world.

In this way, we too become witnesses, and we are transformed by what we cannot unsee. We become a bridge: the bridge over which our human family may come close to Christ.

Prayer

God of Truth
in our darkest moments,
grant us the courage to see and testify.
Make us bridges of compassion
and signs of hope,
bringing all your children into the light of your love.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus,
as we walk with you to Golgotha,
help us to notice signs of hope,
so that our steps do not end at the Cross,
but continue with you to Resurrection.
Amen.

A reading from the Gospel of John

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. – John 19:41

Reflection

Gardens are traditionally places of life; of hope and healing. The quiet preparation, the anointing with oils and spices, the care and reverence for Jesus’ body are a relief: a moment of quiet and comfort after the storms of the journey to the Cross.

We have walked with Christ through the grime and despair of the road to Golgotha, but now, in this sacred space, we pause, and remember that darkness is always followed by dawn.

Prayer

God of Eternal Hope,
in this quiet garden of darkness,
we rest in the promise of your silence.
Teach us to wait with gentle patience,
knowing dawn follows the deepest night,
and after death, new life begins.

Response: Strengthen us Lord, so we can walk with you, as Pilgrims of Hope.

Closing Prayer

Glory Be
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.