MIA Prayer Intention for the Coming Week: Centenary of Gallipoli

25 April marks the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli where, before the campaign ended in January 1916, 44,150 Allies would lose their lives in an effort to secure the peninsula and 86,692 Ottoman soldiers would die in defence of their homeland.

For over 8 months troops from Australia, Great Britain and Ireland, France, India, and Newfoundland battled harsh conditions and Ottoman forces. Total casualties amounted to 392,856.

Considered a 'heroic but costly failure', for both Australians and New Zealanders Gallipoli is a household name, a common tie forged in adversity and a symbol of national identity.

Let us pray with the relatives and communities of those who lost their lives in this campaign, in World War One— "The war to end all wars" —and in all the wars fought since.

Let us pray with renewed vigour today for those parts of our world where there is conflict, unrest or uncertain peace, that peace will be restored.

Post your own Prayer or Reflection in our online Chapel

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA
 

image:"Poppy2004" by John Beniston (Palmiped). Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poppy2004.JPG#/media/File:Poppy2004.JPG