ANZAC Liturgy
On the morning of 25 April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire at Gallipoli. On 25 April, we pause to remember the fallen, the imprisoned and the victims of war. We pause to remember their courage, bravery, compassion and sacrifice for our country and for peace.
On Tuesday, 30 April at Mary MacKillop Catholic College, their legacy was upheld school wide though a liturgy organised by Ms Ayoub’s Year 9 Elective History class. The ANZAC tradition was researched in order to plan and deliver a liturgy to MMCC that would uphold the spirit of the ANZACs. Consisting of the requiem, prayers and bible readings, diary extracts, the laying of the wreath, ode of remembrance, and the Last Post and Rouse, the liturgy was celebrated together as a school community with reverence and respect for the victims of war.
Introducing the happenings of that fated day, the requiem touched on the history of the ANZACs and the war in which they fought in, honouring those who had passed away as a result of the violence of war, and remembering all who had been affected all across the world.
In order to honour the ANZACs both past and present, prayers and bible readings were chosen by those involved in planning, in order to have their own blessings and prayers conveyed to the fallen soldiers.
The diary extract of Sergeant H.D.Bryan is prominent in Mary MacKillop’s ANZAC liturgies. It tells of the Christmas Truce, when ANZAC and German soldiers ceased fighting to uphold Christmas Day together, and serves as a reminder to our school community that even in the midst of war, mercy and humanity still exists.
The laying of the wreath is an integral part of many remembrance services, as well as highlighting the functional and commemorative roles of war memorials. The laying of wreath allows individuals and others to pay their respects and pay tribute to individuals and groups.
In most ceremonies of remembrance there is a reading of an appropriate poem, and one such traditional recitation on ANZAC day is the Ode of Remembrance. Recited in ceremonies since 1919, it’s final line repeats our promise with every recital: we will remember them.
Finally, the Last Post and Rouse are two of the most memorable and significant calls in commemorating the ANZACs, played to signal the end and new beginning of a day in the military, and sounds of mourning and of life.
These paired with the minute of silence, concluded the liturgy and paid final respects to the ANZACs for ANZAC day. With the conclusion of Mary MacKillop Catholic College’s ANZAC liturgy, we as a school continue to keep the fallen and victims of the war in our prayers, and continue to uphold the legacy of the ANZACs.
