Walking with Jesus along the Via Dolorosa - Lent 2024

This year, Lent will begin on Wednesday, 14th February (Ash Wednesday).

A five week prayer resource to be led in parish or used at home through Lent

This Lenten Prayer resource consists of five weekly reflections 'Walking with Jesus along the Via Dolorosa' written by the Living Church Team, Diocese of Down and Connor and shared with other dioceses. 

Each reflection includes:

• Opening Words of Welcome & Opening Prayer
• A Gospel reading
• Time of Silence/reflective Music
• Reflection
• A decade of a scriptural rosary. A line of scripture is read aloud before each of the ten Hail Mary's
  
• Lenten Mission - Encouraging further prayer at home
• Closing Prayer
  
  

The Via Dolorosa Leaders Prayer Guide

Participants prayer leaflets for each week of Lent

Using this prayer resource through Lent

- a Leaders prayer guide for five weeks; and
- five leaflets for parishioners to follow each week.

It has been designed to be used in a variety of ways;
- for your parish to pre-record or live broadcast over your Parish Webcam or Social Media Platform each week of Lent. If this liturgy is broadcast, the collaboration of clergy, lay readers and music ministry will add to the richness of the experience and allow those viewing at home to connect with the wider Parish Community.

- the associated participants' leaflets for parishioners can be distributed for use in their own homes. This will allow people to read the Gospel at home and engage with the Lenten Mission during the course of the week in a time of private prayer. Posting or emailing this resource to those who are housebound will be a good outreach.

- The content of these leaflets can be shared on your parish social media channels. People have become more adept in accessing social media, and as an evangelising people we ought to ensure that the message of Christ is proclaimed in all the spheres in which we are active.

What is the Via Dolorosa? 

'Via Dolorosa' is Latin for "Sorrowful Way".
It is commonly translated as "Way of Suffering".

It is traditionally believed to be the route taken by Jesus as he carried the cross towards Calvary.
The pilgrims begin in the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane and walk through the Lions' gate, which marks the entry into the old city of Jerusalem.

Pilgrims follow the winding path from the Antonia Fortress, believed to have been the place where Jesus was brought before Pilate, and stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where it is believed that Jesus was crucified.

It is a distance of about 600 metres.