ADDENDUM to COVID-19 guidelines from Bishop Brian Mascord

Dear Parishioners,

As mentioned in my communication on Sunday, we begin public Masses this weekend, 23-24 October, with 6pm Saturday Vigil and 8am Sunday Mass at Unanderra, and 10am and 5pm Sunday Masses at West Wollongong, followed by usual weekday and weekend Mass timetable.

Having met with Immaculate Conception and St Therese (ICAST) PPCs last night, we have decided upon the following:

PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

As per the Diocesan Directives:

• Vaccination is encouraged but not mandatory
• Masks must be worn inside the church
• 4 square metre rule applies at this time
• No congregational singing at this time
• Strong hygiene practices will be maintained
• QR Registration 

REGISTRATION PROCESS

There will be no pre-registration for Masses. That process was demanding in terms of admin hours, and we will need to ensure ready availability of digitized records at short notice to the government in case of a Covid case. All attending Mass will be asked to use the Service NSW QR Code at first, and if unable to do so, the monitors will sign you in using a parish QR code.

4 SQUARE METRE CAPACITY LIMIT

Given that there will be no pre-registration, and the 4 square metre capacity, there is a chance that we will reach capacity at Sunday Masses. Based on average Mass counts this will be most likely at the Sunday Morning Masses. We ask your understanding if this occurs as monitors are legally bound to maintain 4 square metre rule (86 at WW, 96 at Unanderra)

7PM SUNDAY MASS DURING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER (STAGE 2)

During stage 2 only, starting this weekend, I will celebrate an additional 7pm Mass at St Therese on Sundays. Many are unable to attend such a late Sunday Mass. If you yourself are able to attend, please consider doing so to free up spaces at the 4 standard Sunday Masses. Only if attending this Mass please email Melissa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO ATTEND PUBLIC MASSES AT THIS TIME

We understand that some are concerned about attending public Mass during stage 2 as churches are among the only venues allowing "mixing" of vaccinated and unvaccinated. If you are concerned for this reason, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our best to organize Communion to be brought to you at home. (All ministers attending your home will be double vaccinated.) 

RECONCILIATION

Normal times for Reconciliation to resume from 5pm Saturday 23^rd October, please refer to the weekly bulletin this Friday for the details. In addition, Fr Jerzy will be offering Reconciliation from Monday 25^th October until Saturday 30^th October after Mass as needed.  

BAPTISMS

We are in the process of rescheduling baptisms that were postponed during lockdown. For any new requests please contact Melissa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

God bless you all,
Fr Duane

Dear parishioners,

I attach here the updated Directives sent from the Office of the Bishop earlier this week. The only practical change for our parish is that we now move from the 4 square metre density rule to the 2 square metre density rule. Since we never approach the 2 square metre density capacity (except at Christmas - which we will soon make plans for), all parishioners will easily fit in our standard 4 Masses across the parishes of Unanderra and West Wollongong. As such the special Sunday 7pm Mass will not continue this weekend. I take this opportunity to once again thank all who came to that Mass, as this has eased pressure on the capacity limit at other Masses. Thankfully our monitors haven't had to turn anyone away from the church doors for any reason since Covid began!

I take this opportunity to thank our wonderful monitors for so quickly, reliably and cheerfully adapting to the new model of registration at Masses - in case anyone is not aware, the preferred process of registration is the ServiceNSW QR codes, though if that is not possible monitors will help register you in our local database.

We will maintain all of our other health precautions at this stage for the sake of the safety and peace of mind of all, especially the most vulnerable among us. It has been wonderful to see so many of you in person again, and I look forward to seeing all of you when you are ready and able to join us again.

God bless you all, keep you safe and give you peace,
Fr Duane