Fr Columba Jordan, CFR, has been a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal for almost 25 years. He joined the community in New York, where it originated, in 2001 and later moved to Northern Ireland. After a brief stint in Bradford, he now lives at St Patrick’s Friary in Limerick, Ireland.
At St Patrick’s, much of the brothers’ attention is centred on serving young people in the neighbourhood. Indeed, this is why the diocese, with the support of the local council, housed them in council houses in an area of Limerick characterised by poverty and hardship. Here, the friars lead youth groups and, during the summer, run a multi week camp throughout the school holidays.
Fr Columba is well known to many through his regular appearances on Called to More, the largest Catholic social media ministry in Ireland and the UK. This year, he has decided to go further by hosting Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender, a Lenten experience which will be available on the Ascension app.
Participants will take on four daily practices: spiritual reading to stir love for God and prepare the heart for prayer, the daily examen to notice God’s presence and respond to his grace, daily exercise as a small chosen discipline of stewardship, and the cross and a dietary fast to create a “hunger” that turns the heart back to Jesus.
Covering the full spectrum of Lenten experience is important to the programme. “We are trying to approach it from different angles to make it as holistic as possible,” Fr Columba explains. “Sometimes Lent can be treated as just a spiritual thing, or with food and exercise it can become just a physical thing, but we really want to lean into the whole person.”
The purpose is also to allow participants to engage with areas they may have previously ignored. “The practice that is most challenging is often where growth is found,” Fr Columba says. “There is something about the Gospel that uses our weakness as a doorway to God.”
He explains that this is not simply an attempt at self improvement, but rather an invitation to encounter God through weakness. “It is not just ‘I need to fix this’,” he says, “but encountering your weakness and offering that to God for a deeper encounter with him. It is about coming to know our need for God.”
Each day will feature a video delivered by Fr Columba, in which participants will read through the Gospel of Mark and receive a spiritual meditation, alongside practical advice on one of the four disciplines included in the course.
Fr Columba explains that the intention is to create a sense of community for those embracing the challenge of Lent. “I live in community with brothers, but if you are on your own or not surrounded by practising Catholics, it can be really helpful to have outside encouragement and to know you are not alone. Plugging into a programme also means we do not have to come up with all the ideas ourselves.” It is the hope of the organisers that the course will be used by parishes and small groups, as well as individuals, to strengthen its communal dimension.
Alongside Fr Columba’s daily contributions, five Crux ambassadors at different stages of life will publish weekly videos sharing their experiences in order to encourage participants to grow in the four disciplines as Easter approaches. Participants will also use a prayer journal to record their reflections and support their daily examen.
Those wishing to deepen their spiritual life this Lent are encouraged to download the Ascension app before Ash Wednesday in order to take part in Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender.
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