COVID-19 Updates for Ryde-Gladesville

Most parishioners would have received an email this week regarding the NSW Health and Sydney Archdiocesan updates on Masses and the current COVID-19 situation.

We urge all parishioners with the means to do so, to subscribe to our Parish blog here https://www.rgcp.org.au/subscribe to keep up to date with what's happening in our Parish, particuarly during this pandemic.


Changes to Weekend Masses
Given the regulations restricting gatherings to 1 person per 4 square metres (as of 20/3/2020, 2pm), the following changes to our Masses will be taking place:

• All large weekend masses will be held outdoors in the church grounds. This applies to all Masses

• Saturday morning and weekday masses will also be held outdoors on church grounds - not inside the churches as previously advised

• All Mass times will remain the same 

• Social distancing of 1.5 metres and other hygiene practices will continue to be maintained

Full information can be found on the homepage and COVID-19 update pages of our website, and in the bulletin and churches. Updates will also be provided on our Facebook page. 


Where to watch Mass online
The Archbishop of Sydney has also declared that in these circumstances, Catholics are not obliged to attend regular Masses if they do not feel safe or comfortable.

If you would like to watch Mass online, Masses are streamed regularly on the following sites:


Mass from St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
https://www.stmaryscathedral.org.au/

Mass from North Sydney
https://www.youtube.com/user/cathnews

Mass with Pope Francis -
https://shalomworld.org/specialevent/daily-mass

Mass with Bishop Robert Barron—

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcMjLgeWNwqL2LBGS-iPb1A

RGCP Buddy System

As recommended by the Archbishop in his letter, we are establishing Buddy System at Ryde Gladesville to assist the vulnerable, sick, frail, elderly, disabled and isolated members within our community during this pandemic.

Ensuring we still comply with NSW Health regulations, hygiene practices and safety recommendations, we wish to establish a team of volunteers to provide these people with assistance in buying groceries & medicines and providing cooked meals delivered to their doorsteps, daily friendly phone calls, in-person company, or assisting with other needs.

If you wish to sign up to be a RGCP Buddy, please contact the Parish Office with your name, contact details and what you would be comfortable assisting with.

If you yourself would like to receive these services, or know anyone in our community who could benefit from them, please also contact the Parish Office.

Cancelled events

For the health & safety of all those involved, the following events have been cancelled until further notice:

• Alpha Series 2020
• weekly Stations of the Cross
• Men’s Breakfast @ Berala, 28 March
• Catholic Women’s League meeting
• Young at Heart April & March Trip

Children’s playgroups have been postponed until Term 2.

Young at Heart: Club Ryde X have issued a notice to say they have sanitising procedures in place to protect members and visitors, and to carry on as usual with activities. If anyone wants to go there for lunch on April 7th, please phone Betty—9809 2981.

General Hygiene and Safety Precautions

In line with recommendations from NSW Health and the Church, we ask that parishioners continue to observe the following:

• Stay home if you are feel sick/unwell, or are experiencing cold & flu-like symptoms
• Wash your hands with soap regularly,  for 20 seconds at a time
• Use hand sanitiser regularly (provided at exits of both churches)
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow, or a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue immediately
• Practice social distancing as best possible - maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others, do not shake hands/kiss/hug as a greeting (wave or nod instead)
• Do not shake hands or touch others during Sign of the Peace
• Do not receive Holy Communion on the tongue - this practice will be refused until further notice

For more information on staying safe, be sure to visit the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

Information on social distancing: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/social-distancing.aspx

For COVID-19 updates from the Archdiocese, visit their website here: https://www.sydneycatholic.org/coronavirus-updates/