Parishioners from across the Diocese have joined Bishop Anthony Randazzo in commemorating ANZAC Day with a Mass dedicated to the memory and prayer of those who died in protection of freedom, justice and peace, in Australia and across the globe.
Members of community, including Hon Philip Ruddock, mayor of Hornsby Shire, joined members of the Diocese, chancery and beyond for Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara on ANZAC Day morning. Students from St Leo’s Catholic College also took part in the Mass.
The Mass begun with the laying of wreathes on the sanctuary, before the Last Post was played, a symbol that the duty of those departed is now over and they can rest in peace.
In his homily, Bishop Anthony reflected on the story of the AHS Centaur, a hospital ship which was attached and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland in 1943, killing most of the crew and nurses aboard.
“In the hours that followed the sinking, the survivors were encouraged by one of the officers and the only surviving nursing sister, to do what they could do for the wounded,” he said.
“War comes close to our very shores and the ANZAC spirit enlivens those to courageous acts. In the midst of this oceans swirl of madness off Brisbane in the pre-dawn darkness 80 years ago, it’s told one could hear two voices raising their prayers to God as the rosary drifted on the sea.
“In the midst of the mess, God was there, in two people’s faith, and their hunger for justice and peace.”
He ended his homily by saying that our civilization needed to be one where justice and peace could find a home, safeguarding the dignity of both men and women, because they were made in God’s image and redeemed by Christ’s blood.
“Here we can return to the words of Christ,” said Bishop Randazzo.
“If we truly wish to be Christians, we must love peace. We must make our own, the cause of peace. We must meditate on the real meaning of peace. We must conform our minds to the thought of peace."
Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD JCL, Bishop of Broken Bay
“Blessed are the peacemakers. Lest we forget.”
The Mass was followed by morning tea in the Cathedral courtyard where parishioners mingled with Bishop Anthony and other members of the community.