Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (12: 23-28) in which Jesus says ‘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’.
Today, especially, Fr Paul remembers all the priests and ministers of other denominations who went with our forces in order to care for them spiritually and to care for them in many other ways. From our Diocese the following priests and have served as Chaplains – Charles Collingridge, Alexander Fillodeau, Joachim Hennessy, Frederick Fry, George Cranney, Claude Bradley, and Jeremiah Dineen. I especially mention Deacon Graeme (Doc) Davis who was a medic at the battle of Long Tan and he is now a Permanent Deacon living and working in our diocese. All these men saw active service and served in various theatres of war from the Sudan war, to World War 1, World War 2 and the Vietnam War. I remember these men because, like all who served our country these priests came home and came back into our communities and tried to continue their lives as best they could. Fr Paul invites to always remember, and treasure, the ANZAC Day words – At the going down of the sun and in the morning… we will remember them… Lest we forget.
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