A priest friend, Fr Kevin Walsh, prepared a liturgy for Anzac Day and I asked him if I could edit its parts into our Parish Blog post for 25th. Interesting story that Kevin was called up for National Service for Vietnam and didn’t go – because he was a novice at the time with the Religious Order known as the Congregation of the Passion. This evoked mixed feelings in him over many years, especially coming from a long family history of serving in the military and knowing the pains many carried in that war, then and since. These days, as a later life positive response to those feelings, he tutors four of the Congregation’s new members in Vietnam using FaceTime and two Vietnamese members in Melbourne. Thanks Fr Kevin for sharing part of  your ministry with us through these materials edited into our blog. Kevin actually has an online ministry for those who like to get their minds and hearts into scripture reflection via regular written homilies made available through the following site: https://realhomilies.wordpress.com

ANZAC LITURGY

(with thanks to Fr Kevin Walsh for content contributions )

You are invited to create a space, perhaps in the lounge room

You might want to use a table cloth on a coffee table with a candle, crucifix, Australian flag and Bible. If you have any war medals from your family members, they might find a position next to the flag.

Australia shares this National Day with our Cousins in nearby New Zealand and Papua New Guinea

Commentary:

On this day, above all days, we recall those who did not return to receive the welcome and gratitude of their nation; those men and women who still sleep where they fell; in the valleys and ridges of Gallipoli; on the rocky terraced hills of Palestine; in the lovely cemeteries of France; in the shimmering haze of the Libyan desert, of Bardia, Tobruk and Egypt; amid the mountain passes and olive groves of Greece and Crete; the rugged, snow-capped hills of Syria; the cradle of civilisation in Iraq and Iran, and amid loving friends in England; in the rich jungles of Malaya, Burma, Thailand, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands; and in our land, Australia; and many an unknown resting-place in almost every land and sea.

We remember also those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the snow and slush of Korea; in the heat and humidity of Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.

We think especially of those of our women’s services who gave their lives in our own and foreign lands, and particularly of those who proved, in so much more than name, the sisters of our fighting men.

We remember especially our peace-keepers in the Persian Gulf, in Bougainville, in East Timor and elsewhere.

We remember particularly those Special Forces Troops currently engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We think of them all and pray for them and their loved ones at this time of the year.

National Anthem

Opening Prayer

Let us pray.
Lord, our God, boundless provider, source of peace that the world cannot give, kindly hear our constant prayer on this Anzac Day.  We pray for those who bore witness to your own fidelity by giving their lives for those they loved.  Resurrect them in our true homeland and perfect that peace for which they longed and died.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

A Reading from the Book of Wisdom  (3:1-9).

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.  In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace.  If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be.  God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.  When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.  They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever.  They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The Word of the Lord.

All:  Thanks be to God.

Brief Reflective Response 

Let us respond to God’s Word by praying the following line –  then for a while, breathe in and out quietly pondering this line, as a prayer for those who have fallen serving in war – and those who have died as a result of war. The line is:  ‘I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living’.

ALL: I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the Living 

Second Reading 

A Reading from the first letter of St John  (3:1-2).

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.  Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.  My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.

The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Gospel 

A Reading from the holy Gospel according to John  (12:23-26).

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.  Anyone who loves their life loses it; anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, they must follow me, wherever I am my servant will be there too.  If anyone serves me, my Father will honour them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr Kevin Walsh, who created this simple liturgy, suggests there might be a time here for household sharing or personal reflection  – he offers these questions to help you get started.

Why do we have Wars?

Is there a better way to solve differences between countries?

What would you say if you spoke at The United Nations General Assembly about things the world needs to address if we hope to see an end to war.

Prayers of the Faithful

Leader:Let us pray together on our national day of remembrance to the God of peace; that his peace will rule in our hearts and His justice guide our lives.

Reader:  We pray for the Church that it may be a true source of consolation and hope for those who mourn for families and friends who have died in war. We pray to the Lord.

All. Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray that the heavenly Father will guide our political and military leaders to seek justice and peace in their dealings with other peoples and nations. We pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader:  We pray the heavenly Father will send His Holy Spirit upon us so that we may be people of justice and peace. We pray to the Lord.

All. Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader:  We pray the heavenly Father will grant to those men and women serving in our armed forces, minds and hearts of peace and justice, so that they may treat others, even enemies, with justice and humanity.  We pray to the Lord.

All. Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader:  We pray that the heavenly Father grant peace of mind and comfort to those who still suffer from wounds or injuries received in the service of their country.  We pray to the Lord.

All. Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader.  We pray that the heavenly Father grant eternal rest to all men and women who gave their lives in the defence and service of their country. We pray to the Lord.

All. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the many thousands of people throughout the world who have died because of the Corona Virus, all those who are suffering because of it, physically, emotionally and economically. May we all learn the lessons which this pandemic has caused us, and may we cherish human life and love as the primary movers within our civilisation. We pray to the Lord.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader:  Heavenly Father, God of Peace, we turn to you on this day of National remembrance.May the spirit of Jesus, Your Son, lead us to the peace He alone can give.  We ask this through Christ, our Lord. All: Amen.

Let us pray the Lord’s prayer together……..Our Father

Ode to Remembrance 

Their glory shall never die,
the whole wide world
is their Sepulchre.
Their epitaph is written in the
hearts of all mankind
and wherever there is talk
of noble deeds their names will be held
in grateful
remembrance.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
we shall remember them.
We shall remember them.
Lest we forget!
Lest we forget!

BUGLE – The Last Post

This is the military bugle call giving notice of retiring at night and the end of the day’s activities  – it is also used to symbolise at a military funeral that the one who has died has gone to his/her final rest

One Minute Silence

BUGLE – The Rouse 

This is the shorter of the bugle calls beckoning one to duty – (at Dawn Services the Reveille is usually played – and the Royal Australian Navy also uses the Reveille, not The Rouse. ‘Rouse’ in Navy language means ‘guard and steerage’)

Blessings and peace to all people of goodwill – of every culture, place and belief – who share gifts of remembrance today – AMEN

This Weekend’s Mass ahead at Our Lady of the Way?

Streaming Sunday 9.30am via Facebook – (see below) – and will continue to be viewable afterwards – Please help spread the word among the community

As you know the approach to Mass/liturgy for Our Lady of the Way has been a mix. There are lots of live streams around plus TV Mass – and we live also streamed through Easter. Last weekend we again used a combination of images, guided texts of the Mass and voice recordings. And I’ve been welcoming any feedback via [email protected] – A number of people have said  that the combination structure has been good for them to be able to take their own initiative or leadership with the liturgy – compared to only using the approach of watching liturgies and trying to enter into them that way. I was glad to get that feedback – a good sign that we can use this time in some way to grow our respective confidence or capacity. No-one has directly asked for another live stream Mass at Our Lady of the Way – but again I’ll be keen on feedback about that. Maybe some people are being polite by saying nothing so far.

In any case, for this weekend, in the spirit of taking a mixed approach, we will live stream Mass. It will stream via Facebook at 9.30am (stream open 5-10 mins before) on Sunday 26th April. And the Mass will be around 40 mins maximum.

Just google anything like Emu Plains Parish Facebook and you’ll find it – or use the link https://www.facebook.com/olowparishemuplains/

See you in the next post .. and

with friendship in God’s mission,

fr Paul