Deacon calls for Peace, Compassion and Unity in Gaza

Deacon Gary Stone, 21 August 2025

Deacon Gary Stone was the first Deacon that I interviewed for this blog. See his story here. With his great experience and prayerful insight, he is now making an important call for peace, compassion and courage to address the devastating situation in Gaza and to bring hope to all people, especially those connected with Palestine, Israel and the horrors of war. Here is an excerpt of the news article, full link below.

TO all God-loving people and people of goodwill,

As the war in Gaza continues to devastate lives and deepen wounds, I write to you with a heavy heart and a resolute spirit.

I am Deacon Gary Stone , a servant of peace who has spent 48 years in the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police — as a senior infantry officer, peacekeeper and more recently, as a Catholic chaplain…

Today, I am deeply concerned not only for the people of Gaza and Israel, but also for many of the veterans I care for here in Australia…Their experience of trauma needs to be respected, not exacerbated…

The world, in many ways, helped create this situation. Now it must move decisively to resolve it.

I have sat with IDF soldiers, heard their perspectives and their desire for security.

I have visited the Palestinian refugee camps, heard their hopeless cries and looked into the eyes with the thousand yard stares of the traumatised.

But now the situation is beyond catastrophic.

We must rise up as humanity to take whatever measures are needed stop the fighting and get humanitarian aid flowing.

But in due course, there must be a glimmer of hope for movement toward a just and lasting solution that honours the dignity and rights of all people in the region.

Trained and practiced as a military strategist, I can confirm that continued combat in Gaza is counterproductive to all concerned.

I appeal to Catholics and Christians across Australia, and to all people of goodwill, to unite in prayer and action. Let us:

• Pray for peace in Gaza and for healing among all who suffer.
• Speak with compassion and courage—whether in our churches, communities, to the media , or online—to promote understanding and reject hatred.
• Advocate by contacting elected officials and community leaders urging them to support diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid for civilians affected by the conflict.
• Gather in interfaith and community events that foster dialogue, solidarity, and reconciliation.
• Support reputable humanitarian organizations working on the ground to provide relief and protect the vulnerable.

Let us also commit ourselves to peaceable conduct here at home, especially in our conversations with those who may hold different views.

We must model the reconciliation we hope to see abroad.

Let us be peacemakers.

Let us be bridge-builders. Let us remember the words of the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.“

With hope and conviction,

Deacon Gary Stone – a veteran, peacemaker, humanitarian and padre.

This is an excerpt of the full article. To read the whole, visit the Catholic Leader page here.

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