Updates

24.3.2020 

Dear Parishioners,

With great sadness, our parish church is unfortunately closed from midday 23 March 2020 and until further notice. This is following the directive of the Australian Government to stop all religious gatherings and close all places of worship as part of the measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

This is indeed a challenging time for all of us, however, we are called, now more than ever before to display courageous and unshakeable faith. This present time gives us an opportunity to show that the Church, the Body of Christ, has never been about the physical buildings, but rather about the people who are the members of Christs’ Body. (1 Cor 12)

As we journey through these difficult times and although the physical doors of the church are closed, our spiritual doors remain open through our unceasing prayers and devotion. We will continue to live-stream the celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Mass), along with other prayers and devotions. The live-stream schedule will be as follows:

The Divine Liturgy (Mass)
Monday to Saturday
9 am in Arabic
6 pm in English
(Sunday Mass times for Live stream will be shared in the coming days)

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
8 pm on Thursday

Stations of the Cross and Evening Prayers (Fridays of Great Lent)
6 pm in Arabic
8 pm in English

Reconciliation
During office hours Monday to Friday
9:30 am to 4 pm
Saturday
10 am to 12 pm

During this time of difficulty where we must turn our homes into “domestic churches”, we encourage you to set up a small prayer space to keep you focused during the live streaming. A small table with a cross, candles, bible and an Icon can be all placed on this table as a way of keeping us in the spirit of prayer. We will also strive to provide more online initiatives to help nourish our faith and we will continue to communicate with you any new information as quickly as possible.

We continue to place our trust in God who is truly present amongst us. Each of us from our homes can unite in prayer and true witness to the world that we are people of hope and of the Resurrection, heeding the words of St Paul: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering and persevere in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)

Fr Tony Sarkis
Dean of Our Lady of Lebanon