THE
CROSS OF
HOPE
Terry
Dewar – A
Life Led by the Holy Spirit
Wood Artisan
Born into a devout Anglo-Burmese Catholic family, Terry Dewar migrated to Perth in 1967 as a young child. His early years were surrounded by sacred images, rosaries, relics, and the rhythms of daily prayer.Inthisatmosphereoflivingfaith,Terrywasgentlyformedinthe Catholictradition,withSundayMassacentralanchoroffamilylife.The witness of his parents, along with the guidance of parish mentors at St Francis of Assisi, Maida Vale especially Fr Brendan Conway and catechist Mrs Casey planted the seeds of a deep love for God and the Church.
Yet Terry’s journey was not without hardship. At school, he often felt isolated and ridiculed for his Catholic identity. The experience of exclusiongaverisetoaperiodofrebellioninhisteenageyears,marked by confusion, restlessness, and a yearning for belonging. He describes thoseyearsasatimeofwanderinginthewilderness tornbetweenthe valuesinstilledinhimandthetemptationsofadolescentindependence. ItwasthroughthepastoralcareandunwaveringpresenceofFrConway that Terry encountered the mercy of God anew. One moment of grace came through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where Terry experienced a profound renewal of spirit. With Fr Conway’s encouragement,hebeganayouthgroupattheparish whatbeganasa smallgatheringofsixsoonblossomedintoavibrantcommunityofover 300youngpeople,fondlyknownas“FatherConway’s.”Itbecameaplace of music, friendship, belonging, and spiritual awakening. Guided by the Holy Spirit and supported by his priest and parish, Terry began to walk thepathoffaithwithnewconvictionandjoy.
Yearslater,TerryonceagainheardtheSpirit’scallduringtheUkrainian crisis of 2022. Moved with compassion, he and his sister Yvonne coordinated parish donations and relief efforts through the West Australian Ukrainian Association. In this season of service, Terry met Fr Patrick at Holy Trinity Parish in Embleton - a priest carrying the heavy burden of a declining parish, yet sustained by tireless prayer and unshakeablehope.
Seeing both the spiritual need and the potential for renewal, Terry and Yvonne discerned a call to accompany Fr Patrick in reviving the parish. Over the next three years, they helped lead efforts to repair, beautify, and reawaken Holy Trinity Parish—restoring not only its physical space butitssenseofwelcome,reverence,andmission.
It was during this time of prayerful renewal that Terry was moved to crafttheCrossofHope—apowerfulsymbolofresurrectionandnewlife. ForTerry,thiswasnotsimplyanartisticorcharitableact,butaspiritual offering an embodiment of his lifelong desire to serve the Lord and drawotherstoChrist.
Terry’slifeisatestimonytothequiet,transformativepoweroftheHoly Spirit. His journey reminds us that no path is ever beyond God’s reach, andthattheSpiritcontinuallyinvitesustoreturn,toserve,andtotrust. Inhiswords: "ItistheCrossthatdrawspeopletoourfaithandguidesusthroughlife."
In every chapter of his story—from youthful searching to mature discipleship—Terry Dewar reveals what it means to be led by the Spirit: to listen, to respond with love, and to offer one’s life in joyful service of theGospel.
THE CROSS OF HOPE
"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do."
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ has always held significant importance in my life. From a young age, I have been curiously drawn to research and reveal the details and meaning of Jesus' crucifixion on the cross, according to writings from the letters of St Paul, described in Mathew 27:27-56, Mark 15:21-38, Luke 23:26-49, and John 19:16-37.
Jesus revealed teaches he had to be crucified on a Roman cross as the perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins all of mankind, thus making the crucifix, or cross, one of the central themes and defining symbols of Christianity.
Before I share my personal story and journey in the making of “The Cross of Hope,” I want to share the history, extensive research details and facts surrounding the Crucifixion, the Cross, and Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and love for mankind.
The completion of the "Cross of Hope" and the Patibulum of Jesus was consecrated by Father Patrick on September 5, 2024. It will endure as a legacy of the Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim year of Hope, inviting pilgrims and invoking spiritual knowledge about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
History of the CRUCIFIXION
Crucifixion did not begin with the Romans, but it was a methodofexecutionthathaddevelopedcenturiesearlier in the ancient near East. The Medes and the Persians practiced this gruesome torture method as well as the Carthaginians and Egyptians. later it was adopted among theGreeksandfinallytheRomansinthefirstcentury.
Crucifixion was mentioned in history from about the 6th centuryBCtothe4thcenturyAD.
THE ROMAN CROSS
The Romans called it by its Latin word crucifixus which means to "fix on a cross". The first century Roman cross consisted of two large wooden beams, a stake and a crossbeam (patibulum). The crossbeam was locked into place at the very top or near the top of a stake.
EXTREME TORTURE
Since the body needed air in the lungs, and blood circulating in the heart the victim would have to push themselves up with nailed feet and pulled themselves up with nailed hands.
BREAKING THE LEGS
To hasten a prisoner's death the Roman soldier would break the prisoner's legs with an iron club. This would also assure that the prisoner was indeed dead.
THE PLACE OF EXECUTION
The place of crucifixion was usually in a very public place where the bodies were left to rot. In Israel crucified prisoners were taken down in observance of the Sabbath (Saturday).
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CRIME
As the condemned prisoner was led bearing a crossbeam to his place of execution, they would be preceded by a public crier who would announce their crime. Their primary charge was written on a tablet (titulus) which also preceded him and finally fixed to the cross that he was crucifed on.
ROMAN CRUCIFIXION
It was indeed the Romans who practised crucifixion as a common method of execution. According to Roman law a Roman citizen could not be crucified, crucifixion was for slaves and extreme criminals, political or religious agitators, pirates, or those who had no civil rights.
Crucifixion and JESUS
In Judaea on Passover at about 31 AD Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judaea had Jesus of Nazareth crucified as a criminal of Rome. Although the death of Jesus is mentioned in ancient sources outside of the Bible, the details of the crucifixion and the events surrounding his death and resurrection are mentioned only in the Bible.
The Bible reveals that Jesus' death was planned by the Jewish authorities, and because they did not have power to put to death a condemned criminal, they turned him over to the Romans for execution. Pontius Pilate the Roman governor of Judea made the final decision to have Jesus crucified.
The Romans first scourged Jesus, then the Romans mocked him by placing a purple robe on his body and hailed him as the "King of the Jews". Then the Roman soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. Next the Romans led Jesus to his place of execution. He was made to bear his own cross but when he could not carry it any longer, he was assisted by a man named Simon of Cyrene.
When Jesus arrived at a place outside the city walls called Golgotha his place of execution, the Roman soldiers nailed his hands and his feet to the cross and a tablet was placed above his head announcing his crime of proclaiming himself King of the Jews, the tablet recorded this INRI in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Jesus was crucified with two other criminals, and he hung there for three hours.
The Roman soldiers divided his garments and cast lots for his robe, and people who passed by wagged their heads in disgust, and mocking him they stated, "he saved others, but he cannot save himself". When the Roman soldiers were ordered to break the prisoner's legs Jesus was already dead and his bones were never broken, but instead the soldier pierced him in the side with a spear.
.Jesus' body was removed, and he was buried in a tomb nearby. Jesus died on Friday at 3.00pm day one ended at 6.00pm when the Passover Sabbath began till 6.00pm, Saturday. This was day two. Jesus rose from the dead at the beginning of day three. very soon after 6.00pm.
ST PAUL Crucifixion of Jesus in
the writings of
Jesus’ crucifixion is central for Paul. He is willing to endure persecution due to his belief that the Messiah was not humiliated but glorified in his crucifixion (Gal 5:11; 2 Cor 11:2428). First-century Romans commonly employed crucifixion against brigands and rebels. It would have been exceedingly strange for Paul to preach a crucified savior. Even among his fellow Jews, Paul met with scorn. In addition to Roman views of crucifixion, the Jewish people knew examples of biblical figures “hung on trees”—especially Haman, the archnemesis of the Jewish nation in the book of Esther. And in the book of Deuteronomy declared the person hung upon a tree to be “cursed” (Deut 21:22–23). How then could the promised Messiah submit to crucifixion? Thus, Paul acknowledges the cross to be a “stumbling-block” to Jews (1 Cor 1:23).
Nonetheless, Paul ardently witnesses to salvation offered by God through Jesus’ death. In contrast to the Deuteronomic “curse” of the cross, Paul envisions the Messiah voluntarily bearing for others the curse that properly falls on all who disobey God’s law (Gal 3:10–14). According to Paul, Jesus’ death justifies, saves, delivers, redeems, and reconciles the sinner to God (Rom 5:6–11; Gal 1:4; 3:13). The idea that Jesus would endure crucifixion voluntarily for the sake of others came to be regarded as the ultimate symbol of humility and love; In this way, the cross would serve as a profound model for Christians devoted to self-denial and loving service (Phil 2:8; 2 Cor 5:14–15; Eph 5:2).
For Paul, there is no Christian gospel without the crucifixion and resurrection. Therefore, in 1 Corinthians 1:17–18, he speaks of “the gospel” as equal to “the message about the cross because the gospel is what God has accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection. Compared to the Gospels, Paul approaches the crucifixion from a very different angle. For many Jews like Paul, during the first century the notion of a Christ who is crucified was an utterly scandalous idea on how and why should God’s anointed meet his end in such a shameful and abominable way?
Paul knew that dying on a cross expressed society’s contempt for the crucified, labeling him a dangerous criminal. Yet for Paul, crucifixion was the bone of contention to speak about Jesus’s saving act. It is no accident that Paul tells his readers virtually nothing about Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and parables. His interest is in Jesus the crucified Christ and so he reminds Christians in Corinth: “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2/ 1:22–24).
When we read Paul discussing the crucifixion, we encounter someone who wants to talk about what the cross does or what happens as a result of Jesus’ death. Paul regards this death as having happened “for us” (1 Thess. 5:9–10) and “for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3; Gal. 1:4), but what does that mean? In part, it means that Christ’s crucifixion is a saving / rescuing event an event through which God acts on humanity’s behalf. Through the cross, God displays love to humankind (Rom. 5:8).
Jesus’ Seven Last Word from the CROSS
Jesusspokehislastsevenwordsfromthecrossandithas been an age-old practice of the church to reflect on his last words as an integral part of Good Friday observance so that we may repent on our sins and resolve to renew our lives and thus participate fully in the joy of Jesus’ resurrection.
FATHER
forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Normally the crucified in their moment of pain, agony and helplessness would curse and spit at the spectators but the innocent, betrayed, arrested and scourged and condemned Jesus did not curse or spit instead he asked forgiveness for those responsible for his unjust and cruel death. Jesus practiced what He had preached "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that spitefully use you and persecute you" (Mt 5: 44). Jesus reminded Peter that there should not be any limit to forgiveness. Archbishop St. Oscar Romero, the outspoken champion of the oppressed in El Salvador, said the same first word of Jesus from the cross, as he was shot dead at the altar. There is a Chinese proverb: "One who hates another digs two graves: one for himself and the other for the one he hates”
AMEN
If say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:42-43). There were two thieves on either side of Jesus. They were really guilty, deserving death. The thief on the right (traditionally called Dismas) literally melted with repentance at the sight of Jesus crucified and addressed Jesus humbly "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise." Dismas did not have to confess all his sins to Jesus, but Jesus forgave and forgot them all and at once. But the hard-hearted, unrepentant sinner on the left remained the same sinner in spite of Jesus' presence and exemplary death right before his eyes.
WOMAN
behold your son, behold your mother” When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he uttered these kind words. Jesus' disciples had deserted him; his friends had forsaken him; his nation had rejected him; and his enemies cried out for his blood. But his faithful mother stood there sorrowfully at the foot of the Cross. Jesus had given everything. He had nothing else left, but his mother, and he gave to us his mother too as our spiritual Mother. She is the mother of the Church to honor, love, respect and imitate her. The Bible says, "Honor your father and your mother.
ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?
which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45-46). This fourth and central Word of Jesus on the Cross is another prayer, from Psalm 22. Already during His ministry Jesus had known what it meant to be forsaken. Forsaken by the members of His own family, people of His hometown, Nazareth, people of Jerusalem, in short by everyone. But He always experienced tenderness of His Heavenly Father, and the presence of the Heavenly Father gave purpose and strength in his dying moments. In the hardest moments when we have been stretched out and are in great pain, we always know that He is there, by our side, feeling everything that we are feeling. He will not fail us, forsake us, or abandon us.
I THIRST
While Jesus was dying on the Cross, He had developed an agonizing thirst. The draining away of blood from the body brings on intensive thirst. The physical agony of thirst is terrible beyond the power of words to describe. The whole body cries out for water. We read in the Psalm 63: 2: "O God, you are my God -- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, like a land parched, lifeless, and without water the Bible says, "Honor your father and your mother.
IT IS FINISHED
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is fi nished" (John 19:30). It was his time to die. It was for this He came into the world to redeem humanity and now that his mission was accomplished, he raised his voice in a triumphant shout: "it is fi nished!" He had very short span of life, 33 years. But he majestically accomplished everything as the OT prophets foretold of him. He does not merely say, "It is over;" he says rather, "It is accomplished, fulfi lled, achieved." The expression “It is fi nished," is the epitome of Christ's life and ministry. Victory over sin, evil and death by willingly, and lovingly and defeating them completely.
FATHER
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit'; and when he had said this he breathed his last"(Luke 23:46). Jesus was always submitting Himself to God, and when He died, He died just as He had lived. Jesus entrusted his spirit, his life to God his Father in faith. We commit our way unto the Lord living our lives in such a way as to hear the consoling and heartwarming words of God our Father, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."
The Cedar of LEBANON
King Solomon used cedar to build his great temple in Jerusalem. Cedar was also used in ship building. Hiram's navy had great adventures procuring cedar. Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus Libani) is protected and is displayed on the Lebanese flag and coat of arms.
Lebanese cedar, imported from Lebanon, was one of the most popular building materials used in the Biblical world by ancient woodworkers because of its high quality, pleasant scent, and resistance to both rot and insects. Many temples, palaces, and seagoing vessels were made from this wood, including Solomon’s famed Temple.
This cedar was also used in the construction of the socalled “Jesus Boat” of the first century A.D. In 1986, two brothers discovered the boat in the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee after a tremendous drought had lowered the water level. It was similar to the boats Jesus and his disciples would have used to cross and fish the Sea of Galilee.
One reason Lebanese cedars are so rare is that they make fewer cones that have lower seed germination rates than other species. The wood is hard, extremely durable, and retains a delightful cedar fragrance for many years. An essential oil extracted from the wood is used in perfumes.
Sadly, today only 12 small groves of the once vast cedar forests of Lebanon remain in isolated parts of the mountains of Lebanon. Only 17 square kilometres, 0.4 percent of the estimated ancient cover.
The righteous are compared to a Cedar in Lebanon.
Determining Jesus’ height THE SHROUD OF TURIN
The Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth revered by many as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, has mystified scholars and believers alike for centuries. First unveiled in the 1350s, the shroud displays a faint image of a man, which has been the subject of intense debate regarding its origins and authenticity.
According to the Bible, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud and placed it in a tomb. The Gospel of Matthew (27:59–60) details this event, which has been a cornerstone of Christian tradition. The Shroud of Turin, since its first public display in the 14th century, has fascinated historians, religious leaders, sceptics, and the faithful alike. It has been preserved in the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy, since 1578.
The cloth itself reveals faint, brownish images of a gaunt man, standing between 5'7" and 6' tall, with markings that correspond to the crucifi xion wounds described in the Bible, including thorn marks on the head, lacerations on the back, and bruises on the shoulders. These details align with the biblical account of Jesus’ suff ering, suggesting that the man depicted on the shroud endured similar torture.
Roman Crucifix NAILS
WHY DID ROMAN CRUCIF HAVE TWO HEADS?
This would allow the soldiers t and the victim from the cross o would stop at the victim’s skin soldiers to use something like would allow an easy removal g dig into the wrists and feet to remove the nails.
HOW LONG WERE CRUCIFIXION NAILS?
According the archaeological find outside of Jerusalem, the crucifixion nail that was used for the feet was roughly 7 inches long and with a diameter of about 3/8 of an inch. It is possible that either 7- or 5-inch nails were used for the hands.
WHERE WERE THE NAILS DRIVEN?
The nails would be placed between the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna). Studies have shown that nails were probably driven through the wrist bones, since nails in the palms of the hand could not support the weight of a body. If a person was nailed through the palms, they would have to be bound or tied to the cross, meaning that the use of nails would have been unnecessary. Furthermore, in ancient times, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand, so historical references of nails through the hands can just as easily, in the ancient mind, mean the wrist as well.
WHAT DAMAGE DID THE NAILS CAUSE?
The nails through the wrist would most likely severe the median nerve, which is largest nerve in the hand, and would cause a severe burning pain as well as permanent paralysis of thehand.Severingthisnervewouldalsocauseshocksofpain to radiate through the arms. The nails would not, however, fracturesorbreakanybones.
Inaddition,withinminutesofbeinglifteduponthecross,the wrists would have dislocated, then the elbows and then the shoulders.ThisisthereasonthatPsalms22:14,inprophecyof thePsalmist,says,“Allmybonesareoutofjoint.”
HOW DID A PERSON DIE DURING CRUCIFIXION?
The Persians created crucifixion, but the Romans perfected it as a slow and painful means of execution. In fact, our English word, “excruciating” comes from the word “crucifixion.” The positioning of the feet was one of the most critical parts of the mechanics of crucifixion. First the knees were flexed at about a 45-degree angle and the feet were flexed (bent downward) an additional 45 degrees until they were parallel with the vertical pole.
An iron nail about 7 inches long was driven through the feet between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. In this position the nail would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot, but the resulting bleeding would be insufficient to cause death. Sometimes, a nail was driven through each ankle to the outside of the cross post. Regardless of which way the feet were put, the resulting position on the cross, sets up a horrific sequence of events which results in a slow and extremely painful death.
Having been pinned to the cross, the victim now has an impossible position to maintain, pulling up his entire body weightonnailsforeverybreathtoallowhislungstheability to expand and exhale. Because of the position on the cross, his ribs would be unable to relax stopping him from completely exhaling. Breathing would become more difficult as carbon dioxide would begin to build up in the blood stream. The heart would begin to race, trying to process oxygen more quickly. After several hours the heart would begin to fail, and the lungs would begin to collapse and to fill with fluid. The blood loss (especially concerning Jesus from the scourging and crown of thorns as well as the crucifixion) and hyperventilation would have cause severe dehydration. That’swhyJesussaid,“Ithirst.”
The arm muscles would begin to paralyze due to extreme fatigue and would eventually stop working. Historians mentioned the spasming of the muscles in the chest because the strain. The victim, at this point, while still slowly suffocatingwouldstayalivebypushinguponthenailthrough the feet and if he lived too long, the Roman soldiers would break his legs, stopping all ability to breathe. Of course, Jesus is perfect in every way, without any broken bones, but for six hours Jesus endured the shame and pain of the cross becauseofHisloveforus.
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. Mystrengthisdrieduplikeapotsherd,andmytonguesticksto theroofofmymouth;youlaymeinthedustofdeath.”
Psalm22:14-15
The reproduction of the double-headed nail was based on information from Roman archaeological records.
The Journey to deliver a CROSS WORTHY
To commence the project of creating a true, life-size crucifix, I had to first select the species of timber most relevant to the true cross. This endeavour necessitated extensive research in the Bible, Roman history, and tree species native to the region of Roman occupation in Jerusalem. The findings were numerous and varied, but the accuracy remained ambiguous.
I gathered additional information on Roman history around AD 30 or AD 33, focusing on the availability and use of common timbers and their various applications.
The most common timber used in Jerusalem during that period was a species known as Cedar of Lebanon. Although there were many varieties of timber available, the Romans and previous occupiers had depleted the timber forests in the region by using them for the construction and expansion of their empire. It was evident from the research gathered that timber was scarce and Roman crucifixions needed to be carried out quickly and inexpensively. To conserve the use of timber, multiple crucifixions were carried out reusing the timber beams and posts.
The project was commissioned officially by Father Patrick Toohey, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Embleton Western Australia on 13th August 2024.
none were available, I would have to source the timber from overseas. This seemed an impossible task to achieve, as I was aware the depleted forests in Lebanon in existence were less that one percent of the original species that remained.
I reached out to every collector and timber trader throughout Australia in search of the Cedar.
Merely three days later, on the 16th of August 2024, a collector on the outskirts of Perth was found in possession of a tree log he had acquired from another trader ten years prior. A telephone call to the collector on the same day allowed me to obtain a description and assess the condition of the species.
On the 21st of August 2024, Father Patrick, my sister Yvonne, and I embarked on a journey to view the cedar timber. We arrived at the location with a long-bed trailer, excited at the prospect of acquiring the rarest timber, due to its species and age. The significance of having an old, seasoned timber to craft the cross was of utmost importance.
Having studied Dendrochronology (or tree-ring dating) at the age of 15, I was able to calculate and estimate the age of the timber. New growth in trees occurs in a layer of cells near the bark. A tree's growth rate changes in a predictable pattern throughout the year in response to seasonal climate changes, resulting in visible growth rings. Each ring signifies a complete cycle of seasons, or one year, in the tree's life. At the time of harvest, this log was approximately 65 years old. Adding the time it was in the possession of the original collector, which was twenty years, and the time spent in the shed of the second collector, which was ten years, the total age of the log is 95 years.
The title of the CROSS
The Titulus Crucis (Latin for "Title of the Cross") is a venerated piece of wood kept in the Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome which is claimed to be the titulus (title panel) of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The board is made of walnut wood, 25 cm × 14 cm × 2.6 cm and has a weight of 687 grams. It is inscribed on one side with three lines, of which the first is mostly destroyed. The second line is written in Greek letters and reversed script, the third in Latin letters, also with reversed script. The Latin reads Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum ("Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews"), corresponding to John 19:19 and the initials INRI The Titulus Crucis is also mentioned in the Synoptics: in Mark 15:26 (as the reason of the crucifixion), in Luke 23:38 and in Matthew 27:37.
The replica of the "Title of the Cross" on the "Cross of Hope" has been meticulously crafted to resemble the original.