The Catholic Weekly 26 April 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 5 26, April, 2020 CATHOLIC HEALTH Austral- ia has welcomed the gradu- al return of elective surgery across the country but says it must be dependent on appro- priate supplies of protective equipment for staff. “This move will be a wel- come relief for the many people who can’t wait much longer,” said CHA chief execu- tive officer Pat Garcia. “The fact that this is hap- pening a month after the sus- pension of all but the most ur- gent operations is a testament to the success of the Govern- ment’s leadership in manag- ing the spread of COVID-19. “Catholic not-for-profit hospitals support the safe re- sumption of non-urgent elec- CLERGY AROUND the world have been asked to find ways to deliver the sacraments while adhering to social dis- tancing and help keep the faith alive during the COV- ID-19 pandemic. So parishes in the Sydney Archdiocese have answered that call by offering Reconcili- ation on the run. St Luke’s at Revesby, St Bernadette’s at Carlton; St Michael’s at Hurstville and St Patrick’s at Kogarah are offer- ing the sacrament to parish- ioners from the safety of their cars. St Michael’s parish priest Fr Janusz Bieniek CSMA said that just because we are in quarantine doesn’t mean we should skip confession. Sitting on an office chair wearing his priestly vest- ments, Fr Janusz said listen- ing to the confessions of the faithful in these difficult times was his way of sharing the love of Jesus with everybody. Keeping the required 1.5 metre social distancing reg- ulations and not attracting groups of more than two peo- ple, he said he currently hears between 10 and 15 confes- sions a day. “We need more than ever to be close to our people,” he said. “The Church is the best place to be and while this isn’t possible at the moment I am trying to make it as easy as I can for people to feel part of our community. “The Archbishop has en- couraged us all to offer the sacraments where possible and I’m in a very fortunate position to be able to do so. “People obviously need to take care of their health, but in these very stressful moments Clergy findcreativeways toministerwhilekeeping faithful safe, adhering toguidelines ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues ¾ ¾ Debbie Cramsie Drive-in confessions take off in archdiocese Surgery welcomed Thinking laterally: Fr Janus Bieniek CSMA ministers to the faithful by offering drive-in confessions. tive surgery but the safety of patients and health workers will remain the number one priority.” Prime Minister Scott Mor- rison announced on 21 April that elective surgery restric- tions would begin to be eased after the Anzac Day weekend. “All measures will be fur- ther subject to review on May 11 to determine if all surgeries and procedures can then re- commence more broadly,” Mr Morrison said. “We estimate that this will lead to a reopening of around 25 per cent of activity in elec- tive surgery in our private and public hospitals.” Last month the country’s largest grouping of not-for- profit health providers high- lighted the lack of access by the private and not-for-profit hospital sectors to national stockpiles of PPE and revealed some hospitals might run out of supplies within days. Mr Garcia also called on the states and territories to sign up to the national part- nership that saw 650 hospitals including the Catholic and not-for-profit sector enlisted to fight COVID-19. “Our hospitals and thou- sands of staff have been on standby to fight COVID-19 for some weeks,” he said. Maintaining flexibility and redeploying services to undertake elective surgery required a level of certainty, commitment and co-opera- tion from the states and ter- ritories to Catholic hospitals, he said. of great uncertainty they also need spiritual attention which I am trying to provide.” Parish priest of St Luke’s at Revesby Fr Tadeusz Seremet SDS said parishioners receiv- ing the sacrament were very thankful while at the same time very emotional. He said people are really struggling with life in isolation and in desperate need of assistance and compassion. “A lot of people really are finding it all very tough, I of- fered confession for the first time last weekend and had more than 30 cars,” he said. “People were driving in with tears in their eyes, they were so very thankful to not only be able to receive the sac- rament but also have some- one to talk to. “They really are struggling with being cooped up in their homes with their families 24/7 and in need of an outlet ... I am so very happy to be able to provide that relief as well as administer the sacra- ments where I can.” To find out the times the drive-in Confessions are available contact each pres- bytery. HOUSE Find the career you deserve SEE OUR LATEST JOBS Call Katie (02) 9390 5402 catholicjobsonline.com. au Catholic students remain online LEADERS IN Catholic Educa- tion have agreed that Catho- lic schools will continue with out of school learning for the commencement of Term 2. School and System leaders will communicate the timeta- ble for students returning to classrooms during the early weeks of term. The return to face-to-face learning will be an orderly transition, Catholic Schools NSW Chief Executive Officer Dallas McInerney said this week. “Principals and schools will communicate details to their families, inmost circum- stances the first two weeks will be for at home learning.” He added that decisions will be informed by public health advice, “as opportuni- ties arise for a return to nor- mal school operations, they will be taken.” Mr McInerney indicated that local conditions require local decisions by System Leaders and principals who are well placed to make these judgements, it is important that schools have this flexibility. “Some year groups and school localities will be candi- dates for anearlier return to the classroom than others, for ex- ample year 11 and 12,” he said. It is also important for early age groups to stay attached to their learning” he said. “We will continue to en- gage with the NSW Depart- ment of Education and NSW Education Standards Author- ity to progress the return of face-to-face learning.” Catholic Education ac- knowledges the ongoing access to government pro- curement opportunities for hygiene supplies and person- al protective equipment. Catholic Schools NSW rep- resents the state’s 598 Catholic schools, which educate some 255,000 students. Parramatta Catholic schools head Greg Whitby will be the Catholic Sector Representative. NEWS