COVID-19 Update

As you would be aware the response to the COVID-19 coronavirus has escalated today. The Prime Minister met with State and Territory leaders to discuss the situation and a new range of preventative measures against the transmission of the virus have been adopted.

Prime amongst these measures is the advice that non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled, taking effect on Monday 16 March. This does not involve, at this stage, the closure of schools, universities, airports or public transport.

We need to emphasise that today’s advice on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people does not affect Masses in our Diocese this weekend. There is no reason to cancel any of our Masses this weekend. The Prime Minister has said that he expected churches and other religious services to be staggered into smaller sittings. Therefore, given their own particular nature and capacity, our own Sunday Masses and our weekday Masses can continue.

As the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brendan Murphy has said, today’s advice “is a proportionate early response to get ahead of the curve.” Clearly the situation may change upon further medical advice. The Government may take further action at a later time.

Bishop Anthony is aware that a number of people will feel anxious about attending Mass in the confined space of a church this weekend, particularly given the number of events that are being cancelled around the country. Naturally, people must make decisions in respect to their own context and health and they must have the freedom to make choices in their best interests. However, it is important that irrespective of the number of people who may attend our liturgies this weekend, we still make available the Eucharist. For those who will continue to be present at our churches this weekend all the preventative measures of personal hygiene previously advertised should be strongly encouraged and implemented.

Bishop Anthony, along with the Bishops of the NSW/ACT Province, will continue to monitor the situation carefully in the coming days and, naturally, will be responsive to further developments.

Let us keep this unchartered situation very much in our prayer and continue to be present to our people in the most caring and sensitive way possible.

Fr David Ranson
Vicar General