Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Re: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update
Yesterday, NSW Health wrote to us advising they have revised the COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship given the recently announced lockdown measures in Queensland.
I trust that you are aware that there have now been several cases of community transmission detected in that state. The situation there increases the risk to your communities at this time, particularly vulnerable members of our parishes.
Considering this, NSW Health has urged that we take the relevant precautions to protect our communities over this period. This includes requesting our parishioners who have been in the affected areas of Greater Brisbane since 20 March (Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay and Brisbane Council Areas) to not attend religious services in person, in line with the current stay-at-home requirements.
Please also request that they consider their movements and whether they have been in any direct contact with people who may be visiting from those aforementioned areas during this period.
Wearing of face masks at places of worship continues to be strongly recommended by NSW Health, especially indoors and when social distancing is not possible.
For those not able to attend services in person, the Diocese of Parramatta will be live streaming Masses and liturgies during Holy Week. This includes the Chrism Mass, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday, Easter Vigil Mass, and Easter Sunday Mass. These services can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/user/ParramattaDiocese.
Many of our parishes are also live streaming their services. For a list of these parishes, please visit: https://parracatholic.org/covid19.
Thank you for the work you do and your support during these times.
With my prayers during this Holy Week,
Very Rev Peter G. Williams
Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia
