CRUX: A Lenten Journey to the Heart of the Cross
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
CRUX is a Lenten course from Ascension that invites us to slow down and look honestly at the Cross of Christ — not just as a symbol of suffering, but as the place where love, sacrifice, and hope meet. During Lent, the Church leads us to the Cross so that we can better understand who Jesus is, what he has done for us, and how we are called to follow him in our daily lives.
This course is not about adding extra burdens during Lent. Instead, CRUX helps us reflect on the crosses we carry, the meaning of suffering, and how Christ meets us there. Through Scripture, prayer, short video reflections, and guided discussion, we are invited to deepen our trust in Jesus and grow in faith as we journey toward Easter.
What to Expect Each Week
Each session will include:
A short video reflection from the CRUX series
Time for quiet reflection and prayer
Guided discussion questions
An opportunity to share and listen in a supportive, respectful environment
Practical Details
Day: Tuesday evenings (24th Feb is first session)
Time: 6:30pm in Meadow Hall at Our Lady’s
Format: In-person with a video, prayer, and group discussion
Materials: All prayers and discussion questions are included in this booklet
A Gentle Invitation
Lent is a season of honesty — about our struggles, our hopes, and our need for God. CRUX invites us to bring all of that to the Cross, trusting that Jesus meets us there with mercy, strength, and love.
Come as you are. Let this Lent be a time to walk more closely with Christ on the way to Easter.
First Week
Core Theme: Identity, dependence and learning to trust God in vulnerability.
Focus: Lent begins not with failure but with love tested – Jesus enters the desert led by the Spirit, not abandoned by God.
Second Week
Core Theme: Glory, listening and holding hope in hard seasons
Focus: The disciples glimpse who Jesus really is before the road to the cross. God speaks – “listen to him”
Third Week
Core Theme: Honest encounter and deeper thirst.
Focus: Jesus meets a woman in her complexity and names her thirst – without condemnation.
Fourth Week
Core Theme: Healing, conversion and resistance to change.
Focus: This is not just about physical sight, but about learning to see God at work in unexpected ways.
Fifth Week
Core Theme: Hope, grief and resurrection before Easter
Focus: Jesus enters grief fully – and still calls life forth. Lent ends facing death honestly, not avoiding it.
In Holy Week pray:
Lord, as we enter into Holy Week, prepare our hearts to meet you in your suffering. Allow us to partake in your Passion and reveal to us your merciful heart. Help guide us in these final days of Lent so that we may not be tempted into neglecting our relationship with you. Amen