Pastoral Letter from the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB - Coronavirus 24th March 2020

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As each day goes by the extent of the health crisis facing us here in WA, across our country, and around the world, becomes more obvious and more alarming.  We are all affected by this crisis, and many will feel a growing sense of concern in themselves and in their families and friends as the dangers we are facing become more confronting.

It would be easy to give way to panic: we see signs of that panic in the empty shelves of our supermarkets.  But the temptation to panic must not lead to an abandonment of our Christian hope and of our trusting faith in the providence of God.  While so much is changing around us one thing remains the same: God is with us, his mercy and compassion overshadow us, and his call to us to love one another as Jesus has loved us still rings in our hearts. 

Even though, in this letter, I must share with you the implications of decisions made by our governments and health authorities, I also want to reassure you that, in these changed circumstances, the Church will continue to be a living sign of God’s fidelity and God’s loving presence.  But the Church will have to do this in new ways: we will have to do this in new ways, for all of us, the community of disciples, are the Church. We may not be able to gather together in our churches, but we can recreate the Church in our homes.  Long before Catholics in Australia were able to build big churches for the celebration of Mass, they gathered together in their families for the rosary around an image of Our Lady.  We may not be able to offer each other the sign of peace at Mass but we can offer each other the gift of our sincere prayer.  We may not be able to organise morning teas for the elderly in our parish halls but we can ensure that those who are lonely and afraid are not left to themselves, even if all we can do is ring them on the phone or leave a casserole on their front doorstep.  As our practical capacity to reach out to others is curtailed our determination to be disciples of Jesus, who gave everything he had and was for us, can lead us to discover new ways to live out our Catholic faith.

Government Directives
The recent decisions by the Prime Minister and the Premiers and Chief Ministers of the Australian States and Territories concerning the closure of “places of public worship” have significant implications for all Australians including, of course, for Catholics.  In Western Australia, the Minister for Emergency Services declared a state of emergency from 12 noon on 16 March 2020 in respect to the pandemic caused by Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pursuant to section 56 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA). Our way of life as Australians, and our way of being Catholic, will consequently alter dramatically while the COVID-19 health crisis persists.  While the decisions taken by our leaders are dramatic and challenging, they are designed to ensure that our country is not overtaken by the spread of the virus to such an extent that our health services collapse under the strain and many more people’s lives will be at risk. 

As Catholics we share with all other Australians the responsibility of adapting our patterns of living to the new reality we face.  It is at the heart of our faith that everyone is a child of God, deserving of respect and care, and that each of us has a responsibility to live in such a way as to enrich and not diminish the lives of others.  As I said in my most recent Pastoral Letter on this matter (Wednesday 18 March 2020), we are indeed our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper.

Extension of the Temporary Suspension of all Public Masses and Gatherings for Prayer and Worship in the Archdiocese of Perth
I am writing to inform you that all public Masses and other gatherings for prayer and worship are now temporarily suspended throughout the Archdiocese of Perth until further notice.  We have no way of knowing how long this situation will last and I am very conscious of the distress this will cause to many of you.  We all know how important the Mass is for us.  It is, as I said in my last letter, at the heart of our lives as Catholics.  It is our way of gathering as a community of faith to draw strength from each other.  It is our way of listening to the Word of God in faith.  It is our way of offering our lives, our needs, our hopes and our loved ones to God.  It is our way of allowing the Lord to unite us to himself in Holy Communion.  It is our way of renewing our commitment to “go out in peace, glorifying the Lord with our lives”.  To be deprived of the Mass will be a great suffering for us all.  But I believe it is what the Lord is asking of us at this time.

It had been my hope that, even with the suspension of public Masses, we might be able to keep the churches open for private prayer.  Following directives issued by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday 22 March 2020, this option is no longer available.  On Monday 23 March, Christopher Dawson (State Emergency Coordinator and Commissioner of Police) in accordance with Section 71 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA) issued directions applicable to the state of Western Australia for the ‘Closure of Certain Places of Business, Worship and Entertainment’.  Under these directions:

‘Every owner, occupier or person apparently in charge of an affected place must close that place to the public for a period commencing at 12 noon on 23 March 2020’.

Under the relevant definitions, ‘a place of worship, other than for the purposes of a wedding or a funeral’ is defined as an ‘affected place’, and is subject to Section 71 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA).

For that reason, and with great sadness, I directed the priests of the Archdiocese of Perth to close all public churches and chapels at 12 noon on Monday 23 March 2020 until further notice.  Should the State government of Western Australia make a different decision I will review the total closure of our churches, but for the time being, effective immediately, we will not be able to visit our churches and chapels for private prayer.  I know that many of you will find this very difficult.  I do ask you to be understanding and not to put unfair pressure on your priests.

Many of you will have specific questions about particular matters.  I will try to address some of those questions here.

Baptisms and Confirmations
Unless a child (or other person) is seriously ill, baptisms are to be postponed until this health crisis is over.  In emergency situations priests and deacons will make themselves available for baptism.  In extreme circumstances any person can validly baptise, provided they have the intention to baptise according to the faith of the Church.  If you are worried about this please contact your parish priest for clarification. 

Confirmation will not be administered in the Archdiocese of Perth, except in the case of emergencies, until the crisis has passed. 

Weddings                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The celebration of each wedding must adhere to the government-issued restriction of no more than five (5) people in attendance.
o Attendees at weddings are to be restricted to the celebrant (1), the couple (2) and the witnesses (2).
o The rule of one (1) person per four (4) square metres applies.

Funerals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The celebration of each funeral must adhere to the government-issued restriction of no more than ten (10) people in attendance.
o The rule of one (1) person per four (4) square metres applies.

The Sacrament or Penance/Reconciliation
Only the First Rite of Penance (individual confession and absolution) can be celebrated, because of the restrictions on numbers.  Priests will do their best to respond to individual requests for the Sacrament, but it is not possible to establish and publicise particular times when the sacrament will be available.  People who identify within themselves the need for confession should contact their parish clergy.  It is also important to remember that in these extraordinary circumstances we are still able to come before God in sorrow and seek his forgiveness, confident that he is “full of mercy and compassion”.  As I said above many things are changing, but God’s compassion, mercy and forgiveness never change.

Anointing of the Sick
While “Anointing Masses” can no longer be celebrated, it is important that the Sacrament of Anointing be available to those seriously ill and in danger of death.  Our priests will do their very best to be available for this important ministry.  They will, of course, be guided by the protocols of the relevant hospitals or aged-care facilities, and will also visit the homes of the sick and dying when asked.  The priests know that they have to take the usual precautions in relation to those who may be contagious.  If they themselves are in a high-risk category or for any other reason are unable to come, they will do their best to help you find another priest who is available. 

At the moment Holy Communion can still be taken by the clergy or even by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the sick, elderly and house-bound if this is explicitly requested by the person or their family.  This advice may change if the government imposes new restrictions.  When conducting such visits all the precautionary measures need to be taken and no-one, clergy or lay person, should undertake this ministry if they are in the high-risk category themselves or are in any way unwell. 

Pastoral Care
At this time, when the normal patterns of pastoral ministry are so severely disrupted, it will take some time for us to find new ways of being present to each other and supporting each other in our faith.  People will rightly look to me as the Archbishop and to my brothers in the ordained ministry to continue to support everyone in their faith.  We are meant to be living signs of the presence of the Good Shepherd among his people.  I think it will take us some time, and require pastoral creativity, for us to discover new and valid ways of being at the service of you all.  Be patient with us, but don’t be afraid to offer us suggestions.  It is together that we will discover how to continue to be the faithful people of God that we are called to be. 

Our particular concern must be for those who are sick, lonely, isolated and afraid at this time.  We have an enormous resource in the faith-filled and generous people of our parishes.  I hope that we may find ways of making real and concrete our concern for those in need.  All of us can offer spiritual support through our prayer, not just for ourselves and our families and friends but for everyone, and in particular for those in great need.  We may not know how God will respond to our prayer – we do know that he will.  In addition to this, many of us may be in a position to offer various kinds of material support: organising meals and other practical assistance for the housebound and visits, or at least phone calls, to the lonely.  Depending on further government decisions we might be able to make ourselves available to help with household tasks, both inside and outside the house.  If we all do what we can, and are prepared to “think outside the box”, then this crisis might also become an opportunity for us to rediscover what those outside the faith discovered in the early days of the Church: See how these Christians love one another!  I ask, too, that this love and concern be extended to our priests.  In the midst of their desire to be at the service of God’s Church they too are feeling confused and uncertain as they face an unexpected and unknown future. 

There is so much more to be said about the experience we are all living through, but this letter is long enough.  I will do my best to keep in touch with you all and will certainly let you know if any of the matters I have dealt with in this letter change or need further clarification.  The government is issuing new directives on a regular basis and often they will impact directly on our Catholic community.  For those who are able to do so I would ask you to keep visiting our archdiocesan website on a regular basis: www.perthcatholic.org.au  The Archdiocese will be offering various suggestions and resources to help you maintain your spiritual focus at a time when the churches are not available to us. 

As we did last Sunday we will live-stream Mass from the Archdiocese of Perth each Sunday morning at 11.00am.  We are also exploring the possibilities for streaming other liturgical celebrations as well as short messages from me and others in the archdiocese to provide information and, hopefully, inspiration.  To the extent that it is possible, and following recent instructions from the Holy Father, we will live-stream the Holy Week liturgies in a modified form.  The details of this will be available on the website as soon as they are finalised. 

When the disciples of Jesus were overwhelmed by a storm which had overtaken them, Jesus came to them in the midst of the storm, encouraging them not to be afraid because he was with them.  He reached out to Peter as he was sinking and lifted him up (cf. Matthew 14:22-33). The Lord is with us in this present storm which is engulfing us and he is encouraging us, too, not to be afraid.  He has not deserted us . Rather he is calling us to discover him in the midst of this crisis and allow him to lift us up and lead us safely to shore. 

The Lord also reminds us that, on the cross, he gave us his mother, Mary, to be our mother.  In Australia we turn to her as the Help of Christians.  May she come to help us now with her prayers for us and with her presence among us.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Timothy Costelloe SDB
Archbishop of Perth
Catholic Archdiocese of Perth

Pastoral Letter from the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB to the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In the Book of Genesis when Cain, after having killed his brother Abel, is asked by God where his brother is he replies with a question of his own: Am I my brother’s keeper? (Gen 4:9). For Cain the answer is clear. He has no responsibility for his brother. For God the answer is very different. Cain is absolutely responsible for his brother, and must answer to God for his brother’s welfare. This ancient biblical story has a powerful message for us as we face the global pandemic of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). At this time in every aspect of our lives we are faced with a fundamental question: Do I put myself first or should I act for the good of my brothers and sisters in the reality of my own life’s circumstances? The decision I have taken, reluctantly and deeply conscious of its gravity, to temporarily suspend all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Perth, is based on my deep conviction that as a Christian community we must act in the best interests of all the members of our society. The government has directed that, at least as I write this letter, all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people must be cancelled. When less than 100 people gather, they must practice “social distancing”. These measures are designed to slow down the transmission of COVID 19. While the decision to temporarily suspend all public Masses goes beyond the strict requirements of the government as they presently stand, I have judged that, in order to fully respect the intention of the government in issuing these directives, we as a Catholic community can best express our commitment to the well-being of everyone in our community by taking the action that I have. I know that this decision will cause great distress to some, and perhaps many, of you. I want to assure you that I did not make this decision lightly. The Mass is at the heart of our lives as Catholics. It is our way of gathering as a community of faith to draw strength from each other. It is our way of listening to the Word of God in faith. It is our way of offering our lives, our needs, our hopes and our loved ones to God. It is our way of allowing the Lord to unite us to himself in Holy Communion. It is our way of renewing our commitment to “go out in peace, glorifying the Lord with our lives”. For us to be deprived of the Mass is a great sacrifice and a great suffering. But the Lord himself calls us to this - because we are our brother’s keeper. We make this sacrifice now for the well-being of our community because, as Jesus himself tells us, “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples - that you love one another as I have loved you” (cf. John 13:35). Jesus sacrificed everything for us - and as his disciples we must be ready to make sacrifices for others in imitation of him. Even though we cannot gather at the moment to celebrate Mass together we are not deprived of the presence of the Lord. We know that he is with us, closer to us than we are to ourselves. We know that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (cf. Hebrews 12:1), who always accompany us on our journey of faith. Mary, the Mother of God, walks with us in company with the saints who never stop praying with us and for us. God continues to send his angels to protect us and guide us. The Church, especially though, not only through its ordained ministers, continues to be the Lord’s chosen instrument through which he remains present among us as our Good Shepherd. The present decisions I have announced will be reviewed within two weeks and will be confirmed, modified or cancelled at that time. However, we must prepare ourselves for the very real possibility that we will not be able to celebrate the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week and Easter in the Cathedral and in our parish churches this year. We have a duty to remain responsive to the advice and directives of our government and our public health officials. As both Catholics and citizens we wish to be responsible and cooperative members within our society. The Eucharist is the greatest gift we have. Our Catholic faith is also very rich in its many other spiritual traditions. The first Catholics in Australia, deprived of the Mass, gathered around the Blessed Sacrament, left by a priest who was unable to remain in the colony in what is now Sydney. In the presence of their Eucharistic Lord, the people entrusted themselves to Christ at a time of great uncertainty. With this in mind I have asked our priests to keep our churches open for private prayer where possible, and to organise times of Eucharistic Adoration. As long as only small groups gather, and maintain a safe distance from each other, this will be an ongoing possibility for us and a source of strength and comfort for many. Those first Catholics also turned to Mary as a source of hope and comfort. The rosary became a central part of their lives, and this prayer could well become once again a treasure for all of us. Saint John Bosco, the founder of the religious order to which I belong, was fond of saying that if we want to see what miracles are we should entrust ourselves to Mary, Help of Christians. Under this title Mary is the patroness of Australia. Let us ask her to pray for our country, and indeed for the whole world, at this time. There are many other spiritual resources available to us in our Catholic tradition. Both here in Perth through our Archdiocesan Liturgy Office, and right across Australia, people are working to compile lists of resources which might help us connect more deeply with God, who is with us in this moment of crisis as he was with Jesus in Gethsemane and on Calvary. I encourage you to regularly visit our Archdiocesan website, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website, and other reputable Catholic websites, where you will find many helpful resources. You will also find on our Archdiocesan website regular updates on many practical issues related to our response to this crisis, including information on the planned live-streaming of some liturgies on our web page: www.perthcatholic.org.au Although public Masses are suspended for the time being our priests are still ready and willing to be at your service. In cases of emergency, especially as regards to the Sacrament of the Sick for those in danger of death, please do not hesitate to contact your local parish. There you will also be able to enquire about opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance. And you can be sure that our priests will continue to celebrate Mass in private for all their people. Because of the decision I have made I wish to make it clear that the normal “Sunday Obligation” to attend Mass on either Saturday evening or Sunday does not apply to anyone at this time, except our priests. But we are still called to “keep the Sabbath Day holy”. Just as we are free to determine how we make each Friday of the year a day of penance, so in this time of crisis we are free to decide how we, in our particular situations, will observe the “day of rest and prayer”. “Do not be afraid”. These words recur over and over again in the pages of both the Old and New Testaments. They were the words addressed by the Angel Gabriel to Mary when she was told that she was to become the mother of the Messiah and they were the first words addressed by Jesus to his disciples on the evening of his resurrection. In the midst of the health crisis in which we find ourselves these same words are addressed to us: Do not be afraid. Have courage. I am with you. We are a people of faith and of hope. We know the Lord is with us. Let us draw strength from this faith and support each other when worry or fear threaten to overwhelm us. Let us allow this temporary deprivation of the Eucharist to sharpen our hunger for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Let us recognise the presence of Jesus in all the different ways in which he steps into our lives. And most of all let us keep praying for each other, for those who have died, and for those who are selflessly putting themselves at the service of our community at this challenging time. Yours sincerely in Christ, Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB DD Archbishop of Perth

Further Revised and Temporary Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Related Changes to be Implemented within the Archdiocese of Perth

Statement from The Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB on revised and temporary changes to be implemented within the Archdiocese of Perth in relation to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Dear Fathers, Deacons, sisters and brothers in the Lord.

Today, Wednesday 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister has expressly communicated a ‘ban on non-essential gatherings of persons of one hundred or greater in indoor areas’.  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.  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 write to share with you a revised and expanded series of directives which come into effect today, Wednesday 18 March 2020.  These directives are in addition to the previously issued directives to the Archdiocese of Perth of Wednesday 4 March 2020 and Monday 16 March 2020.  The website of the Archdiocese of Perth has a dedicated COVID-19 web page on which all statements from the Archdiocese of Perth can be found.  You can access this information on the Archdiocesan website via the following link:  www.perthcatholic.org.au

The following directives apply to the clergy, religious and the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth.  These directives should be appropriately and immediately communicated verbatim within parishes, Catholic Education Western Australia, Archdiocesan ministries, and the broader Catholic community.
• 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 does not apply during this time of emergency.
• ‘Mass on Demand’ (Online) and ‘Mass for You at Home’ (Television)
  o Online: ‘Mass on Demand’, a daily service of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and CathNews can be accessed online at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYRq7AjVimr-hcHFJD_HVaQ

o Free-to-air Television: ‘Mass for You at Home’ is shown at 6.00am every Sunday morning on Channel 7.

o The online streaming of the celebration of the Mass from St Mary’s Cathedral (Perth) and other churches within the Archdiocese of Perth is currently being developed and coordinated.

• The 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.
• Celebration of the Sacraments of the Church
  The following temporary directives are to be observed in relation to the celebration of the Sacraments of the Church:
  o Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals will continue until further directives are issued.
• I direct that each gathering must conform to the government-issued bans for indoor and outdoor public gatherings, and the relevant public health advice in relation to the practices of social distancing.
• The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board has determined that all funerals should be restricted to no more than 50 people at each gathering.  These directives are outlined in a memo from the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board which has been placed on the Archdiocesan website.
• A number of funeral homes have provided advice to the Archdiocese of Perth that from Wednesday 18 March 2020 they will be limiting the size of gatherings at funerals to less than one hundred people.  I advise you to specifically consult with relevant funeral homes directly when arranging funerals to ensure that you are aware of, and adhere to, their specific policies.

o Reconciliation: Priests will continue to provide opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, according to Rite I (individual confession and absolution).

o The celebration of First Reconciliation (school-aged children and others), First Holy Communion (school-aged children and others) and Confirmation (school-aged children and others) will be temporarily suspended.

• I have today provided a letter to Parish Priests, Principals, Sacramental Coordinators and Catechists advising them of these temporary suspensions.
  • A copy of this letter will made available by both Catholic Education Western Australia and on the Archdiocese of Perth website: www.perthcatholic.org.au
• Prayer Resources for Individuals and Families
  The Archdiocese of Perth will be providing a series of prayer and worship resources for individuals and families to use within their homes for the period in which these directives are in effect.  Web links to resources are available on the Archdiocese of Perth’s Centre for Liturgy website: http://liturgy.perthcatholic.org.au

Additional links and suggestions for prayer resources will be regularly placed on the Archdiocese of Perth website in the COVID-19 section: www.perthcatholic.org.au

Ministry of Communion to the Sick, Elderly and Housebound
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is placing limits on visits to vulnerable groups.  Those who minister communion to the sick, elderly and housebound (Clergy, Acolytes and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)  are directed to review the AHPPC’s latest updates and recommended measures to assist in protecting vulnerable people from COVID-19.  The advice of the AHPPS can be found here: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-public-gatherings-and-visits-to-vulnerable-groups

Chrism Mass and the Celebration of the Easter Triduum (Thursday 9 April – Sunday 12 April, 2020)
In response to, and in support of the government’s ban of indoor gatherings of one hundred persons or more, the celebration of both the Chrism Mass the Easter Triduum must be examined.  Options for live-streaming the Chrism Mass and Easter Triduum on the internet are being considered and developed.  Subsequent advice and directives will be issued in advance of the celebration of the Chrism Mass and the Easter Triduum.

Pastoral Letter to the Faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth from The Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB
On Thursday 19 March I will issue a pastoral letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Perth.  The daily development of public health advice, escalating global responses by civic and religious leaders, as well as the global impact on our sisters and brothers across the world continues to develop.  The formal directives provided by Bishop Sproxton and myself in recent weeks have sought to provide you with relevant and preventative strategies, as well as guidance intended to responsibly safeguard both community health and wellbeing.  These formal directives are not intended as substitutes for the further pastoral care owed to the people of the Archdiocese of Perth.  My forthcoming pastoral letter will seek to more fully respond to the wide spectrum of needs which exist for the people of the Archdiocese of Perth during these challenging times.

Public Health Advice
Additional information and access to daily health alerts can be obtained from the Australian Government’s Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

Launch of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Campaign
The Australian Government’s Department of Health has launched a national campaign to inform all Australians about the coronavirus (COVID-19).  A national campaign has been launched to inform all Australians about the coronavirus (COVID-19).  The campaign aims to reduce the risk to individuals and families by enabling them to make informed decisions and to take up health recommendations.  The campaign resources can be found at:
https://www.health.gov.au/news/launch-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-campaign

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
The Australian Government’s Department of Health provides a collection of resources for the general public, health professionals and industry regarding COVID-19, including translated resources.  I would ask that you make your respective communities and ministries aware of the existence of these resources which can be found at:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources

I assure you of my continued prayers and practical support as together we as an Archdiocese seek to continue to witness and proclaim our Christ-centred hope within a global context that is collectively seeking to respond to the uncertainty and reality of COVID-19.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB DD
Archbishop of Perth