A CATHOLIC archbishop in Sydney might be calling for an easing of restrictions for some elements in the church, but in the Central West leaders have not backed the calls.
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Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, might have written to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian recently asking for churches to be re-opened, initially for private prayer and confessions, but Anglican and Catholic leaders in this region say they are happy to wait.
"Although I understand Archbishop Fisher's request, I think our greatest longing is to be able to gather again as church. Many Anglicans are as content with private prayer at home," Anglican Diocese of Bathurst Bishop Mark Calder said.
"We long for the day we can gather again as church, and hope and pray that this might be considered possible sooner than later, albeit with social distancing in place."
Bishop Calder said, however, that if restrictions were lifted that allowed 100 people to gather again that congregations could resume.
A Catholic Diocese of Bathurst spokeswoman did not say which, if any, elements of the church should open first if restrictions were lifted.
"Churches in the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst will remain closed while ever government regulations require this to be the case," she said.
Meanwhile virtual morning teas, prayer times and online Sunday services are keeping the region's faithful connected as coronavirus restrictions continue.
"For Sunday services, most parishioners have been able to watch the videos the diocese has prepared either on YouTube or DVD and they have been a blessing," Bishop Calder said.
"Some of our older folk have worked hard at significantly up-skilling their IT skills and have gathered for virtual morning teas or prayer times or Bible study via Zoom or similar."
In the Catholic diocese, parishioners have been participating and engaging with mass services which are being streamed on Facebook and YouTube from the Cathedral of St Michael and St John as well as several parishes within the diocese.
"People from outside the diocese have also made use of these services, with some viewers being from overseas," the spokeswoman said.
Some of our older folk have worked hard at significantly up-skilling their IT skills and have gathered for virtual morning teas or prayer times or Bible study via Zoom or similar.
- Anglican Diocese of Bathurst Bishop Mark Calder
"Live-streamed services on Good Friday. Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday were viewed over by 5000 people."
Bishop Calder said funerals had been very challenging since restrictions were introduced.
"[There has been] great sadness involved at not being able to pay tribute to their late loved one as they would have wished, or indeed, at not being able to hug and physically console one another," he said.
"However, once again, technology has been used so that people have been at least been able to watch a livestream of the service."
I think people are completely understanding and supportive of the restrictions.
A number of online Catholic liturgical resources have been developed for people to be able to carry out prayer services and liturgies in their homes.