EASING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
From this Friday, February 12th, an unlimited number of people can attend Mass, provided that the one person per 2m2 rule is observed. Now that the 2m2 rule has been reinstated, Archbishop Anthony has lifted the dispensation from our Sunday Mass obligation. The Catholic faithful are once again obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation when this is reasonably possible. If restrictions are once again tightened, and attendance at places of worship limited to one person per 4m2, the dispensation will once again be in place. Those who are of great age, have health conditions or are otherwise anxious about the risks of COVID-19 are free to remain at home and find another way of keeping the Sabbath holy. Priests should encourage parishioners to return to regular Sunday worship.
Additional notes:
- Weddings and funerals. Weddings and funerals are limited to the lesser of one person per 2m2 and 300 people.
- Record keeping. With the increase in available places, for most parishes, this will mean that advance bookings for Sunday Mass are no longer required. However, records of attendees at Masses and other religious services are still required to be collected, preferably using the Service NSW App and QR Code. Any paper-based attendance records must be converted into an electronic format within 12 hours.
- Churches open for private prayer. It should now be possible for churches to remain open for private prayer, because records and “Covid marshals” are not required except for Masses or other formal services. Sanitizer and a QR sign should be available at church entrances.
- Mask wearing. Parishioners are encouraged to wear masks where social distancing is not possible, but this is no longer mandatory.
- Choirs. Indoor choirs are limited to five people. The small choir should face forwards and not towards each other, with physical distancing of 1.5 metres between each chorister, and 5 metres from all other people including members of the congregation, where practical.
Congregational singing. Congregational singing is still not permitted for indoor Masses
