Dear Fathers, Deacons, Pastoral Staff
Warmest greetings.
We are very grateful for all you continue to do in care of your parishioners and those who seek the pastoral support of your communities. It has been a challenging time for everyone and it continues to be so. The recent introduction of Covid Steps and differences between Metropolitan and Regions have posed further ambiguity in interpretation and pastoral praxis. Of course, we have all wanted to ensure adherence to the Covid Steps and consistency across parishes.
We have sought further advice on the phrase “outdoor religious gatherings” as there has been confusion as to whether the celebration of Mass and other sacraments is allowed outside. We have been informed that outside Masses are permitted when celebrated adjacent to the Church as long as all Covid directives are followed concerning spacing, hygiene and personal contact. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Melbourne for this clarification.
Please find attached the following directives which outline the Steps and how they are to be understood within the parishes of the Diocese of Sale. You will be mindful of how best to implement these Steps if possible at your local parish; However, if you are unable to satisfy the directives, then you would be advised not to be put your parishioners at risk or facing penalties. The pastoral determination of those who attend should be balanced with the care of those who would desire to join you, but are unable to do so.
We look forward to the time when we can be united in prayer and worship at the Table of the Lord.
Yours in Christ
STEP THREE – Regional Victoria
All Victorians over the age of 12 must wear a face covering whenever they leave their home, unless a medical exemption applies.
As of 11.59pm Wednesday 16 September, 2020 until otherwise directed:
• PLACES of WORSHIP: Places of worship can open for private worship for households and people who are in a bubble together (up to five people).
• OUTDOOR RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS: of up to 10 people, plus 1(one) faith leader, proximate to a place of worship, are allowed. Signage, directions and
sanitising stations must be clearly available. Contact Records must be kept.
• WEDDINGS: will be limited to 10 people, including the couple and the two witnesses. The celebrant and children under 12 months of age are not included in
this number.
• FUNERALS: will be limited to 20 mourners plus the minimum number required to conduct the funeral. Children who are under one year of age are not counted in
the 20 person limit. You can travel to attend a funeral.
• BAPTISMS: may be celebrated under the outdoor gathering limits, or worship for households or ‘social bubble’ direction. Note specific hygiene around
use of oils and water. This allows for eleven people including the celebrant outdoors and five people including the celebrant indoors (a child under 12 months not
included), meeting all hygiene and distancing precautions and recording names and contact details of all present.
• LIVESTREAMING: a limit 5 in total may be present, including the celebrant.
• VISITATIONS:
Homes: Faith leaders may visit someone in their home on request to share spiritual ministry (or equivalent religious services) to provide care and support to a person
who is at the end of their life. It is critical measures like face coverings and physical distancing are observed, and that the travel to the person’s home and the visit are
limited to what is reasonably required and necessary (e.g. only required attendees should visit and just for the service).
Hospitals or Care Facilities:
Faith leaders may visit someone in a hospital or care facility to share spiritual ministry (or equivalent religious services) to those who are at the end of their life,
or if it would support a patient or resident with their emotional or mental wellbeing, in line with other visiting restrictions and if this support cannot be provided
remotely. It is important to note that strict limits on visitors apply in these circumstances. It is critical measures like face coverings and physical distancing are
observed and these visits are limited to what is reasonably and necessary (e.g. a visit has been requested by a patient). Such services can also be provided using video or
live streaming, depending on religious tradition.
• If you can work from home, you should continue to do so.
All requirements around hygiene and distancing must be met, along with the collection of contact details.
STEP TWO – Casey and Cardinia – Western Region
All Victorians over the age of 12 must wear a face covering whenever they leave their home, unless a medical exemption applies. As of 11.59pm Sunday 27 September 2020 and until otherwise directed:
• All places of worship including churches, adoration chapels and other church buildings used for public prayer and religious services are to remain closed except for permitted ceremonies.
• RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS: permitted with a limit of five people, plus one faith leader. Must be adjacent to the place of worship with only one group permitted at a
time. You can only travel up to 5km from your home to attend a gathering and only for 2 hours. Signage, directions and sanitising stations must be clearly available.
Contact Records must be kept.
• WEDDINGS: permitted in outdoor public spaces with a maximum of 5 attendees, including the couple and two witnesses, but not including the celebrant. Children
under 12 months are also exempted from the number. Weddings do not need to occur proximate to a place of worship.
• FUNERALS: will be limited to 10 mourners (infants under 12 months of age not included in this number). A separate grouping of mourners may not come in
to remove the coffin from the church. You can travel to a funeral outside of metropolitan Melbourne. Restrictions apply based on the location of the funeral, and
limits to numbers also apply.
• BAPTISMS: may be celebrated under the outdoor gathering limits. Note specific hygiene around use of oils and water (refer further in these Guidelines). This allows
for 5 people including the faith leader outdoors (a child under 12 months not included), meeting all hygiene and distancing precautions and recording names and
contact details of all present.
• LIVESTREAMING: a limit of 5 in total may be present, including the celebrant.
• VISITATIONS:
Homes: Under Stage 4 restrictions, faith leaders may visit someone in their home on request to share spiritual ministry (or equivalent religious services) to provide
care and support to a person who is at the end of their life. It is critical measures like face coverings and physical distancing are observed, and that the travel to the
person’s home and the visit are limited to what is reasonably required and necessary (e.g. only required attendees should visit and just for the service).
Hospitals or Care Facilities:
Under Stage 4 restrictions, faith leaders may visit someone in a hospital or care facility to share spiritual ministry (or equivalent religious services) to those who are
at the end of their life, or if it would support a patient or resident with their emotional or mental wellbeing, in line with other visiting restrictions and if this support cannot be provided remotely. It is important to note that strict limits on visitors apply in these circumstances. It is critical measures like face coverings and physical distancing are observed and these visits are limited to what is reasonably required and necessary (e.g. a visit has been requested by a patient). Such services can also be provided using video or live streaming, depending on religious tradition.
• If you can work from home, you must do so.
All requirements around hygiene and distancing must be met, along with the collection of contact details.
GENERAL LITURGICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MASS
These Liturgical Guidelines are intended to assist Clergy and faithful in the reverent and joyful celebration of Mass while maintaining the health and safety precautions offered through health and government authorities. It is by carefully observing the directives and precautions outlined in this document that the celebration of Mass, even with the limitations of restrictions now in place can take place prudently. We look forward to gathering together with all our people to safely celebrate the Eucharistic, but in the meantime we will follow these guidelines with diligence, using common sense and respect for others.
If there are difficulties maintaining any of the following directives, then Masses should be suspended.
FACEMASKS and SANITISING
Outdoor Masses, Funerals, Weddings, Baptisms, and Live-Streaming.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
HOLY COMMUNION
The following information is designed to allow for the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass in a safe manner for both ministers and communicants. All liturgical norms that govern the ordinary distribution of Holy Communion are observed in these norms, preserving the integrity of the celebration and distribution of the Eucharist.
The Priest or (minister):
The Communicant:
PLEASE NOTE: It is advised that when live-streaming, reception of Holy Communion is done off-screen/video.
Adapted with permission from Archbishop’s Office, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
