The Mass is attended by civic leaders for whom seats are reserved at the front and a military catafalque party. The catafalque party is traditionally mounted around the coffin to ensure the safety of the body while it lay in state. Its presence around the liturgical space during Eucharist is questionable and a matter of concern in our Archdiocese.
The 2021 official video of the ANZAC Mass shows that the young men providing the catafalque party are not engaged in full and active participation as their military role precludes responding to prayers and joining in the common gestures.
I have usually made a point each year of approaching these young men to share the sign of peace during the Liturgy. . However, I noticed that this year again the young men holding their weapons are not able to respond to this greeting as their hands are firmly gripping their weapons in the place of sanctuary.
In previous years in the days leading up to ANZAC Day Jim and Franz Dowling of the Catholic Worker movement have leafleted parishioners and visitors to the Cathedral also calling for a ban on guns in the Cathedral.
My images and photo reflection on the 2018 Mass.
If you share our concern about the presence of weapons in the Cathedral of St Stephen please voice your concerns here.
If you share our concern about the presence of weapons in the Cathedral of St Stephen please voice your concerns here.
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