The Catholic Weekly 5 April 2020

11 5, April, 2020 catholicweekly.com.au edged the importance for people of religious services in times like these. I think we should keep the numbers involved in live- streamed Holy Week services to an absolute upper limit of ten (as in funerals) including camera operator, cantor, serv- er, any concelebrating clergy; the fewer the better from a safety and public perception point of view. Current advice on distancing, hygiene etc. should be followed meticu- lously and be seen to be fol- lowed. Some camera angles make people look more nu- merous or closer to each oth- er than they actually are and should be avoided. Simplification of Holy Week services Cathedral services are necessarily more elaborate than parish services and Holy Week services more elaborate than in the rest of the year. But even cathedral liturgies must be shortened if we are to minimise risks and maintain the interest of online viewers. Rome has already authorised significantly slimmed-down ceremonies (e.g. no palm procession, no washing of the feet, no kissing the cross except by the celebrant, no Easter fire). Local advice has already been issued by the Liturgy Office. Other commonsense sim- plifications include using a portable lectern rather than having a server hold the book; reduced use of pontificals and doing things like hand-wash- ing for ourselves; a cantor or recorded music; using fixed camera(s) and moving the “action” within the scope of the camera rather than re- quiring a cameraman. I note that the cathedral or parish church is the work- place for clergy (and staff such as choir and servers) and that attending workplac- es is still permitted where necessary. Obviously, we will minimise attendance even by ‘employees’. But cathe- dral clergy concelebrating at the cathedral, parish clergy in their parish, and religious communities in their con- vents, especially in Holy Week are, I believe, doing ‘essential’ work in their ‘workplace’. At such celebrations, we should be able to demonstrate that we are no greater risk to each other than we are in our pres- byteries and religious houses where the very same people already live in the one ‘house- hold’ together. Previous directives regard- ing the church being closed, distancing (4sqm per per- son), hygiene, no pax, need to intinct at concelebrations etc. continue to apply here. While any Liturgy is being live-streamed, the church building must remain closed and the faithful may not con- gregate outside, nor may the clergy come out of the church to distribute palms or Holy Communion (as this would encourage illegal gatherings). Confessions Because First Rite Con- fessions are by definition a meeting of two people these are unaffected. However, they cannot be conducted in churches or in a way that en- courages groups of people to gather in one place. Some are trying outdoors confessions; others in the presbytery or people’s homes. Current ad- vice on distancing, hygiene etc. should be followed. But please advise your parishio- ners of the continued avail- ability of Confession via ap- pointment and of the logistics of how they can book this. Weddings There was no suggestion in the Prime Minister’s an- nouncement that this affect- ed indoor weddings. But as previously announced, these are now restricted to the cou- ple, the celebrant and the two witnesses. Weddings are best postponed. Funerals There was no suggestion in the Prime Minister’s an- nouncement that this affected indoor funerals. But as previ- ously announced these are re- duced to 10 people maximum in attendance. A memorial Mass might be promised to the extended family, friends and parishioners once this becomes possible. Novel viruses provoke nov- el pastoral practices in the Archdiocese Here are some examples of things being offered by the Archdiocese in response to current needs and restric- tions: • archdiocesan coronavi- rus webpage includes links to live-streamed and on-de- mand liturgies, readings, cur- rent health and liturgical di- rectives, prayers, reflections, stories of saints in plagues etc. • daily live-streaming of Masses from St Mary’s Ca- thedral • the Catholic Weekly is ful- ly available on-line and offers regular news updates: the full digital edition of the paper can also be accessed • regular pastoral letters from the Archbishop • regular updates from the ACBC, the Vicar-General and the Liturgy Office on direc- tions for celebrating the sac- raments etc. • daily on-line lectio divina • on-line devotions, pod- cast lectures and reflections etc. and links to useful re- sources from around Australia and the world • WhatsApp groups for each deanery and for younger clergy to share (pastoral ideas and experiences). Creative pastoral practices in the parishes Here are some examples of things being offered by the parishes in response to cur- rent needs and restrictions: • so far around 15 parishes are live-streaming Mass. The quality are of a very high cali- bre with good clear vision and sound and had a combined views of more than 10,000 • churches with street-fac- ing entrances and glass doors are leaving their lights on, as a source of comfort to people driving by • parish websites and e-bulletins are carrying lat- est announcements, links to helpful resources, advice on CatholicCare, SVdP and other local support services, consol- ing messages etc. • various new Facebook accounts, Skype/Zoom gath- erings, WhatsApp groups and Google Hangouts have been set up in parishes to allow on- line prayer groups, discussion groups, youth groups and cat- echesis (advice on the how and why of these will soon Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP celebrates Mass in a deserted cathedral. PHOTO:ANTHONY MILIC be coming from the Archdi- ocese) • some priests are trying to ring all their parishioners (or at least those who are iso- lated) to wish them a happy Easter and to ascertain their needs • priests are bringing sacra- ments to people at home or in nursing homes where permit- ted, are enabling Confessions for those who seek them, and continue to conduct funerals and other essential spiritual services as far as possible • priests, religious and pastoral teams are reassur- ing those who are anxious or must postpone celebrations • particular priests are be- ing trained, equipped and made available to attend those with the virus • five times a day ringing of parish bells with public prayer intentions for each • a “Say hello virtual foyer” for gathering by Zoom after Mass • parish volunteers deliv- ering groceries, medications, prayer cards, Easter eggs to the doors of those who are isolated • parishes, religious hous- es, the ‘domestic church’ of family homes and many in- dividuals are interceding for the Church and the world at this time. Responses from across the Church Here are some examples of initiatives being undertaken across the Church in response to current needs and restric- tions: • Sydney Catholic Schools are ensuring on-line edu- cation for all our children is available from home (which special provision for those without computer access at home) and supervision (with online ed) for the small num- bers still coming to school • fee relief will be offered to all families struggling finan- cially and other provision • CatholicCare, the St Vin- cent de Paul Society and oth- er Catholic agencies are act- ing with courage and care to implement changes to their practices to ensure that ser- vices to the vulnerable and needy are maintained and grown at this time of need; this includes, of course, ser- vices for the homeless, who are particularly at risk in the current situation • CatholicCare’s “CCare- line” is ensuring practical support, counselling and oth- er services are provided by lo- cal communities or online as needed, especially for those who are isolated, anxious or financially insecure; CCare- line can be contacted on 13 18 19 by/for anyone needing assistance during the current emergency • CatholicCare is also help- ing coordinate parish provi- sion of material care to isolat- ed and older parishioners; so far ten parishes have joined this programme. Archdiocesan and parish staff Currently the vast major- ity of Archdiocesan staff are working from home in keep- ing with Government direc- tives. The Polding Centre remains open for deliveries of mail, couriers and urgent transactions. Visitors have been restricted to those es- sential and all meetings are being carried out by video- conferencing or teleconfer- ence. Emergency functions such as IT, CDF payments and payroll transactions are being done from the Polding Centre and this is likely to continue even if a lockdown is man- dated by the Government. An email went to all Parish Priests and Administrators on Friday regarding operating parish offices with church- es now closed: in particular, Parish Priests were asked to reduce secretary days/hours in response to the reduced workload. We have also cut staff / staff hours at Cathedral House. Further actions to re- duce costs may be required depending upon how long churches remain closed and parishes with little income, but we will do everything pos- sible to avoid losing our excel- lent staff and to avoid adding to their financial and emo- tional burdens. Support of the clergy I restate my closeness and gratitude to our pastors for persevering in these strange circumstances and for re- flecting upon, implementing and sharing with each other imaginative and prudent new ways to care for our people. The Vicars for Clergy, Region- al Vicars and Deans will try to keep in regular contact to see how you are going and how we might help. I will also be hosting Zoom video meetings to which all clergy are invited so that we can reflect together on how we are responding to the current challenges. I thank the Board of the Clergy Remuneration System for taking the initiative of re- ducing clergy stipends and living expenses at this time, not least in solidarity with our people. These same reduc- tions will apply to the arch- bishop, auxiliary bishops and clergy paid out of the Chan- cery. Conclusion The steps being taken by our governments and health authorities, though seemingly very austere, are based on the best available advice on what is necessary to keep people safe. They are therefore mea- sures of concern and compas- sion with which the Church is happy to cooperate, challeng- ing as it is for us, as we seek to maintain our life of prayer and worship, or teaching and consolation, while actually in- creasing our pastoral and oth- er practical care for people. The pattern of birth, death and rebirth is what Chris- tians expect for God’s fa- vourites like Israel, for Jesus’ friends like Lazarus, and for the Church herself. She’s been through this many times. Each of us, also, goes through various beginnings, ends and revivals, various conversions, diversions and reversions. Yet as Jesus declared with regard to Lazarus in last Sunday’s Gospel, so too for us, the sto- ry “will not end in death but in God’s glory”. My love to and continuing prayers for you all. This is the edited text of the Third Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese of Sydney re- garding the latest restrictions in response to the COVID19 pandemic by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP on 30 March 2020. SPIRITUAL COMMUNION P24 FROM THE ARCHBISHOP