These reflections give voice to those affected by the horrifying chain of events in East Timor. It is appropriate to use the 'Hail Mary' in recognition of our predominantly Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ in East Timor, and in the East Timorese community here in Australia. Our action together in praying is as necessary for ourselves in our horror, as are our prayers for the East Timorese in their suffering. A Bible reading which gives a vision of wholeness and justice, after the despair and suffering of the reflections, is Isaiah 65:17-25.

Reflection 1

Reader 1:
We think of women, who have lost husbands, children, and hope: "Rape is the weapon of choice of the oppressors in East Timor" East Timorese women's stories gives an idea of the overwhelming nature of invasion - invasion of country, invasion of homes, and invasion of self. One woman is a member of the women's branch of CNRT, the National Council of Timorese Resistance. She was beaten by members of the militia group Besi Merah Puti earlier this year. A few days later her home was destroyed. Then, while she was hiding out in the home of a relative, a member of the militia group entered the house and raped her. Attempts to report the rape to the militia commander led to further beatings for her and her husband. Another woman told of how she was arrested by the Indonesian military and a militia unit at a relative's house in Viqueque. She and her husband had been subjected to threats for their support for CNRT. While she and her 6 year old child were in the house, she was arrested by the military. Before being taken away, her clothes were ripped and she was sexually abused. She did not remember how many men were involved because of the terror of the moment and the darkness in the house. She and her child were detained for four days, and then released. Her home has been destroyed and she has gone into hiding.

Reader 2:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

And in him are blessed: all those who look to him at the point of death; those who die suddenly or violently; all who mourn the death of a loved one; and those for whom the process of dying is fearful

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

REFLECTION 2

Reader 1:
We think of the increasing terror of the last weeks and especially the last days, as told by an Australian journalist in the newspaper, Monday September 6: There's no escape; the militia have the United Nations complex in Dili surrounded. The gunfire only ever stops briefly. The militia have never before been seen with weapons of war as we are hearing now - rocket grenade launchers and hand grenades. Those sounds are coming from the Indonesian soldiers. The compound had been orderly until the militia opened fire on hundreds of people who had sought refuge in the adjoining schoolyard a couple of hours after nightfall. People panicked as a 15-minute burst of automatic gunfire splintered into the school. Between the gunfire and the UN compound stood a razor-wire fence. Terrorised mothers threw children over it, some of them breaking bones. Older children braved deep cuts to legs and hands to climb over the wire. Within minutes UN guards had thrown open the complex and hundreds of refugees were streaming in. UN staff carried wailing children, some only toddlers. Pregnant women fainted and were carried.

Reader 2:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

And in him are blessed: all those who look to him at the point of death; those who die suddenly or violently; all who mourn the death of a loved one; and those for whom the process of dying is fearful

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

REFLECTION 3

Reader 1:
We remember the churches - the priests, nuns, and clergy who have been sheltering refugees within their compounds, and providing humanitarian aid, but who now are also under attack. The Uniting Church Assembly's Secretary for Indonesia, the Rev. John Barr sent the following message, late Monday night, September 6.

Dear Friends, Reports coming in from East Timor indicate that the situation is extremely serious. Today I spoke to the synod office of the Protestant Church in East Timor. I was told that the militia control the streets. There is shooting and many people are being killed. Buildings are on fire and tens of thousands of people have fled into the bush. There is great fear that churches are now being targeted and people have been informed that "Hosanna Church" , the central protestant church in Dili, will be burnt tonight. Presently more than 100 refugees are being housed in the church. It appears as though there is a clear-cut campaign to kill both pro-independence supporters and all Timorese who worked with United Nations. An American observer who was evacuated by the Australian airforce to Darwin this evening described Dili as being "hell". The situation is tragic. It is 1975 all over again (Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and this led to death of 200,000 people). One church worker pleaded with me today on the phone "please, please do what ever you can!". Rev John Dunn and Ms Joy Balazo (UCA observers in East Timor) are safe after being attacked in Dili during the early hours of Sunday morning. Their house was bombarded with rocks and 8 shots were fired at the front door. Today the President, Rev John Mavor, sent an urgent fax to the Prime Minister of Australia pleading that he act to protect people who are being systematically killed in East Timor. Also the National Council of Churches issued a statement calling on the Australian Government and the United Nations to increase pressure on the Indonesian Government to accept armed peacekeepers in East Timor immediately.

Reader 2:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

And in him are blessed: all those who look to him at the point of death; those who die suddenly or violently; all who mourn the death of a loved one; and those for whom the process of dying is fearful

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Time of silence for individual prayer. Invite the gathered community to light tapers to remember the dead and those still suffering in East Timor, as well as the East Timorese community here in Australia.

Acknowledgements:
East Timorese women's stories adapted from Amnesty International Australia's report: Women at Risk in East Timor 'Hail Mary' adapted from A Procession of Prayers (WCC Publications) Excerpts from newspaper adapted from The Age, September 99

A very moving Eucharist for Peace in East Timor was held at St Patrick's Cathedral 9/9/99. I am also including here some of the materials used there:

Bible readings:
Isaiah 49:12-18
Romans 8:31-39
Luke 24:1-35

Songs which were used:
'Here I am Lord' - Dan Schutte, New Dawn Music, 1981
'Jesus Christ is Waiting' - John Bell, Wild Goose publications, 1988
'Who Will Speak' - Marty Haugen, 1993
'Diverse in Culture, Nation, Race' - Ruth Duck, 1992

Prayers:

Opening Prayer
God of perfect peace
Violence and cruelty can have no part with you.
May those who are at peace with one another
hold fast to the good will that unites them; may
those who are enemies forget their hatred and be healed
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever
Amen

General Intercessions:
God created all people with equal dignity, free will and liberty, but the sinfulness, selfishness and narrowness of some, cause many people to be unjustly deprived of their equality and liberty. For these we pray

Response:
O God, hear us; hear our prayer.
(prayers were offered for the East Timorese community, here and in Timor, with the response offered after each petition.)

Close to intercessory prayer: God of freedom, we know that it is your will that all should be free and enjoy the good things of the earth; believing this, we make these prayers for liberty in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen

Lord's prayer in Tetum (indigenous East Timorese language):
Ami aman, iha Lalehan
Tulun ema atu hahi Ita Naran;
Halo Ita Nia reinu to'o mai ami;
Haraik tulun ba ema atu tuir
Ita Nia hakarak
Iha rai nu'udar iha Lalehan.
Ohin ne'e,
haraik ai-han lor-loron nian mai ami;
haraik perdua mai ami salan
nu'udar ami perdua
ba ema halo aat ami;
labele husik ami monu ba tentasaun,
maibe hasai ami housi buat aat.