"Take up your cross and follow me..." (Mark 8:34)
Earlier in the day, the Cross and Icon were entrusted, by the young students
of the Archdiocese of Brisbane at Marymount College, into the care of
Australian soldiers. Father Glynn Murphy (Chaplain for the 1st Division
and parish priest of the Catholic Military Parish of South-East Queensland)
described, “the Cross and Icon could not be in better hands than those
of the Australian Defence Force”. In a way, the men and women serving
in the Australian Defence Force could not be in better hands than those
of Jesus Christ. Bishop Max Davis, Bishop of the Australian Defence Force, reminded
the crowd of the service and sacrifices that the men and
women of the Australian Defence Force make in ensuring the freedom of
this country and peace in our world. He spoke of the importance of faith
(as represented by the Cross and Icon) to people in the military, offered
prayers for those who currently serve in dangerous parts of the world,
and invited all those present to venerate the Cross. The Cross was then processed around the parade ground to special “stations
of the Cross” – each representing overseas theatres of operation where
Australians have recently served and are currently serving: Afghanistan,
Iraq, Timor Leste (East Timor), the Solomon Islands, UN Peacekeeping Operations,
the Multinational Force of Observers in the Sinai and Humanitarian Relief
Operations in Banda Arch, Pakistan, Lebanon and Fiji. Prayers were said
for the Australians involved in these military operations.
The last “station” represented all the Australian Defence Force personnel
who have made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in defence of
Australia. An emotional feeling took over the ceremony as bagpipes sounded
the tune of Amazing Grace. Those gathered reflected and prayed
through the WYD Cross in remembrance and respect.
The Bishop of the Australian Defence Force would like to thank the Catholic
Military Parish of South-East Queensland for all their efforts in organising
and coordinating this blessed event, all the soldiers of Kokoda and Gallipoli
Barracks who have contributed to the success of this event, and the Army
commanders of Kokoda Barracks for their positive support.
CONTACT
For further information about the WYD Cross and Icon's visit to Kokoda
Barracks, Canungra, please contact:
Nicole Bristow For general information about the WYD Cross and Icon's journey around
Australia, visit the official World
Youth Day Cross Website.
SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND - KOKODA BARRACKS, CANUNGRA
MONDAY,
20 AUGUST 2007. The
World Youth Day Cross, Icon of Our Lady and much needed, drought-breaking
rain arrived in the hinterlands of the Gold Coast as a motorcade of Military
Police motorbikes, Queensland State Police vehicles and two Army Bushmaster
armoured vehicles brought the precious symbols to servicemen and women of
the Australian Defence Force gathered at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra.
This historic event marked the first time that the Military Ordinariate
of Australia (Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force) has hosted
these significant symbols of “Christ’s love for humanity”.
Upon
arrival at Kokoda Barracks, the Cross and Icon were welcomed by a humble
crowd of Australian Defence Force personnel, their families, friends of the
Catholic Military Parish of South-East Queensland and civilians from the
local Canungra area. Australian soldiers raised the Cross in the middle
of the parade ground, with a likeness to the famous picture of American
soldiers raising the US Flag on the island of Iwo Jima during the Second
World War. However, on this day of peace, the Australians raised the WYD
Cross as a proclamation of faith.
Journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon Coordinator
Catholic Military Parish - South-East Queensland
Email: wydatsjoa@gmail.com
Phone: 0432 474 279
