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MEDIA RELEASEFor immediate release18 March 2020

 

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Catholic Archbishop of Perth announces new directives in response to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB, Catholic Archbishop of Perth, today announced a further series of directives to the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth in relation to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

These new directives respond to the Prime Minister’s expressly communicated ban on non-essential gatherings of persons of one hundred or greater in indoor areas, announced earlier today. The Government’s existing ban on non-essential outdoor gatherings of five hundred persons or greater, which came into effect on Monday 16 March 2020, remains in effect.

Archbishop Costelloe SDB said: “I commit the Archdiocese of Perth to the support of, and compliance with, both of these government directives and the associated and instructive public health advice.
The Western Australian and Federal Governments continue to issue ongoing public health advice in relation to COVID–19. The Archdiocese of Perth continues to be guided by this advice through our ongoing commitment to monitoring any threat posed by COVID–19 to Catholic communities across our Archdiocese.

"I am announcing a revised and expanded series of directives which shall come into effect today, Wednesday 18 March 2020. These directives apply to the clergy, religious and the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth” said Archbishop Costelloe.
Included in the Archbishop’s latest directives are:

  • Temporary Suspension of the Public Celebration of the Mass

All public Masses at all Churches and Chapels across the Archdiocese of Perth will be temporarily suspended from receipt of these directives on Wednesday 18 March 2020. This temporary suspension of public Masses within the Archdiocese of Perth is in place for an initial period of two weeks between Wednesday 18 March 2020 and Wednesday 1 April 2020. Subsequent revisions and advice will be given prior to Wednesday 1 April 2020 in relation to this temporary suspension.

  • The Sunday Obligation for the Faithful will not apply during this time of emergency.
  • ‘Mass on Demand’ (Online) and ‘Mass for You at Home’ (Television).
  • Bishops and Priests of Australia will continue to celebrate Mass in private for all the people entrusted to their care.
  • Accessibility to Churches and Chapels

Parish Priests, Administrators and Rectors, in consultation with their communities of worship and the directives of public health advice, will put in place provisions for Churches and Chapels to remain open for private prayer, with the possibility of Eucharistic Adoration.

A comprehensive list of the Archbishop’s directives is available by Clicking Here

Further media enquiries should be directed to:
Mr Brett Mendez, Media Manager, Catholic Archdiocese of Perth
Telephone: 08 9313 2241 Mobile: 0448 791 661
Email: brett.mendez@perthcatholic.org.au