COVID-19 Implications for the Catholic Diocese of Sale
Information Updated: Tuesday 27 October 5.00pm
The following Guidelines are approved by Fr Peter Slater, Diocesan Administrator and Bishop-elect Greg Bennet, to assist Clergy and Faithful with questions pertaining to specific areas of liturgy and ministry in the Diocese of Sale during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have not already done so, please ensure you have your COVID Safe Plan prepared and enacted.
In response to the latest directives announced by Government as part of the proposed Roadmaps for the reopening of the Metropolitan and Regional areas of Victoria, the following will become operational for Regional Victoria and Metropolitan Melbourne from 11:59pm on 27 October, 2020.
METRO - CASEY & CARDINIA LGA’S
STEP TWO Summary with new additions as of 11.59pm Tuesday 27 October
- Curfew: no longer in place.
- Travel: Up to 25km
Religious Ceremonies:
Outdoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 20 people plus a faith leader. Must be adjacent to the place of worship. Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
Indoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 10 people plus a faith leader. Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
Note: Indoor and Outdoor services are not to be held concurrently, it is only one group permitted at a time. Plus, Parish needs to have prepared a COVID-safe plan outlining how they will manage gatherings which includes social distancing, mask wearing etc.
- Private worship: allowed for a household, and two adults, and any of their children or dependents, plus a faith leader.
- Weddings: Permitted in outdoor public spaces allowed with up to 10 people. The faith leader, a photographer, and children under 12 months not included in the cap.
- Funerals: allowed with up to 20 mourners. Infants under 12 months and people required to conduct the funeral not included in the cap. A separate grouping of mourners may not come in to remove the coffin from the church.
- Baptisms: may be celebrated under the latest outdoor and indoor religious gathering limits, Note specific hygiene around use of oils and water.
- Public Gatherings in Public Spaces: up to 10 people from across multiple households, friends and/or family outdoors (infants under 12 months not included in cap, but other children must be included in number limit).
- Visitors to the Home: Two adults and children that cannot be left unsupervised can gather in a household within the 25km radius once a day. Visitor records must be kept. If you have visitors, you cannot visit someone else’s home that day. Visitors to households must wear masks. Single bubbles remain in place.
- Work: If you can’t work from home, you can go to work, and you do not need to carry a permit. However, you still need a permit to travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria for work or study. If you can work from home, you must continue to work from home.
REGIONAL - BASS, LATROBE, WEST GIPPSLAND, EAST GIPPSLAND, SOUTH GIPPSLAND LGA’S
THIRD STEP with new additions of 11:59pm 27 October 2020
- Curfew: not in place.
- Leave Home: Travel allowed across all areas in the Third Step (except to areas with higher restrictions).
- Home Visits: up to two people can visit a person at home each day. The two people can be from different households.
Religious Gatherings:
Outdoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 50 people plus a faith leader. Must be adjacent to the place of worship. You must also wear a mask, unless you have an exemption. Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
Indoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 20 people plus one faith leader, with groups of no more than 10 people. (This refers to the spreading out of concentrated groups of people across the space. Consider 10 at front LHS and 10 at back RHS for example). Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
Note: Indoor and Outdoor services are not to be held concurrently, it is only one group permitted at a time. Plus, Parish needs to have prepared a COVID-safe plan outlining how they will manage gatherings which includes social distancing, mask wearing etc.
- Private Worship: places of worship can open for private worship for a household and up to two other people, plus a faith leader.
- Weddings: A wedding indoors at a place of worship can have the couple, celebrant and a photographer, then ten others (witnesses are included in the 10 guests) - making a total of 14 people allowed. Infants under 12 months of age are not included in this cap. If a wedding is held at a private residence, private gathering restrictions apply.
·Funerals: Indoors: permitted with up to 20 people. Infants under 12 months of age and people required to conduct the funeral not included in the cap. Outdoors: permitted with up to 50 people. Infants under 12 months of age and people required to conduct the funeral not included in the cap.
- Baptisms: may be celebrated under the latest outdoor and indoor religious gathering limits. Note specific hygiene around use of oils and water.
- Public Gatherings in Public Spaces: up to 10 people across multiple households, friends and/or family, outdoors.
- Work: Work from home if you can. If you can’t work from home, you can go to work. You still need a permit to travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria for work or study.
Previously you have received the liturgical and hygiene guidelines. These have not changed.
See General Liturgical Guidelines for the Celebration of Mass.
