Patterns of the Cross - Online Retreat

Add an intentional day of pause and reflection to your Lenten practices this year facilitated by internationally commissioned liturgical artist Karen Brodie Archibald. You can journey closely with Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to resurrection joy in a 6 hour online retreat.

Over the course of seven years, Karen dedicated her Lenten seasons to creating fabric art designs in 14 Stations of the Cross. It has become a lifetime project which has changed her, as she intimately connected with Jesus on his way to the Cross. The reflections were generously written by clergy from ten different denominations, and cover a spectrum of theological basis, age, ministry experience and gender. Remarkably, the authors find common ground in the Paschal Mystery: sacred pattern in life, death, and renewal. Karen was inspired from these reflections to draw and create an accessible devotional experience that draws us into the Lenten walk with Jesus. She contributes 14 original artist’s descriptions. The whole is uniquely compelling.

Throughout the church season of Lent we take 40 days, like Jesus did, to walk the way of the cross, contemplating how we fall short of the life we would like to lead in love, as persons and as humanity, preparing for the resurrection of Easter.

The Stations of the Cross, a long Christian tradition, depict up to 14 events during Holy Week. They include images such as Christ carrying the cross or being laid in the tomb. Having already completed original drawings to accompany these images, Karen is currently in the process of creating these artworks in fabric; sales this online retreat are a fundraiser to help bring these Stations of the Cross to life.

On April 7th, 2025, Karen expands this profound devotional experience of walking with Jesus to offer her creative leadership in an online, one-day retreat via Zoom. Please send any questions to karen@brodiedesigns.com. Learn more about the Stations of the Cross Project here: https://www.thestationsofthecross.ca/