Corona Covid-19 Update | 24 July 2020 | OLOL Cathedral closed
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP ANTOINE-CHARBEL TARABAY TO THE PARISH OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON, HARRIS PARK
24 JULY 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As you are already aware, we have taken the precautionary measure to close our Cathedral due to parishioners testing positive to COVID-19. All our clergy at Our Lady of Lebanon have tested negative and they remain in isolation for 14 days, as instructed by the health authorities. This directive does not include Reverend Fr Tony Sarkis, Dean of the Cathedral, and Deacon Charbel Dib as they were on annual leave during that period, or Subdeacon Ghassan Nakhoul, as they did not participate in any of the Masses with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Upon consultation with NSW Health and following their advice, and as an extra precaution at this time, we have taken the decision to keep Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral closed for public Masses for one more week, until Friday 31 July 2020. By that date, the 14-day isolation period would be over. Although the church itself has been cleared as a safe venue, gatherings of 100 people at each Mass could pose a risk of transmission within our community.
For your convenience, the testing clinic in the Our Lady of Lebanon carpark will also be open for one additional day: Saturday 25 July 2020 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm If you have not yet been tested for COVID-19, please visit the clinic on Saturday.
If you have already tested and received negative results but have since developed symptoms of the virus, please get tested again and remain in isolation.
During this week, we encourage you to join us in praying for our community and in particular for those who have tested positive to have a speedy recovery. We also encourage you to participate in the Mass in your homes via the Livestream services, at the following times:
• Saturday 25 July 2020 at 6:00 pm (English & Arabic)
• Sunday 26 July 2020 at 9:30 am (English), 11:00 am (Arabic) and 7:00 pm (English)
• Monday 27 July to Friday 31 July 2020 at 6:00 pm (English & Arabic)
We hope and pray that the parish will be open for Mass on Saturday 1 August and we will continue to update you throughout the week.
A reminder that all parishioners who attended the following masses: Wednesday 15 July at 5.30 pm, Thursday 16 July at 6:00 pm or Friday 17 July at 1:30 pm and 6 pm, should continue the 14-day isolation period which ends on Friday 31 July 2020. Please continue to monitor yourselves for any symptoms and visit the nearest clinic to get tested. A list of the clinics can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics
If you require any assistance during this period, please contact the Parish office on 02 9689 2899 or the Chancery on 02 8831 0000. With you, I seek the intercession of Our Lady to protect our parishioners and envelop us all in her maternal care, especially those who are fighting COVID-19 or are in isolation.
In God’s Love,
+ Antoine-Charbel Tarabay Maronite Bishop of Australia
Corona Covid-19 Update | 20 July 2020
Dear parishioners,
In a Public Health Alert issued this afternoon after liaising with Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay and the Parish team, NSW Health is now directing anyone who attended any of four services at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park to immediately self-isolate for 14 days and present for testing even if they are not experiencing symptoms. These services are:
• Wednesday 15 July – 5.30pm Mass
• Thursday 16 July – 6pm Mass
• Friday 17 July – 1.30pm Funeral & 6pm Mass
Anyone who has attended the Church since 15 July outside of these specific times should also closely monitor for symptoms and get tested if they begin to feel unwell, no matter how mild their symptoms are.
This is due to two new cases being identified in parishioners who also attended services on these days, both of whom are in isolation.
To facilitate testing for our community, a pop-up testing facility will be set up in the car park of Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral from tomorrow, Tuesday 21 July 2020, and for the next four days from 9am to 4.30pm.
The church has undergone cleaning and will remain closed at this time and until further notice, as a precaution.
We will continue to live-stream Masses and you can participate in these from home.
No parish committee events or gatherings will be permitted to take place on the premises for the time being.
Further information regarding Mass and Liturgical Celebrations (Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals) will follow in the coming days.
These uncertain times have been very challenging for all of us. From the moment we had to close our churches we have all felt the impact of this pandemic. However, we firmly believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have and will always receive the power to get through these challenges.
We sincerely request your cooperation and understanding, as we try to protect all in our community, especially the elderly and the vulnerable, and we ask for your ongoing prayers during these difficult times. Rest assured that the clergy and parish team here at Our Lady are holding our parish community and the wider world in our daily prayers.
Through the intercession of St Charbel and St Elias, we pray for all those impacted by COVID-19, and ask God for an end to this pandemic.
Fr Tony Sarkis
Dean
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral
