End of Lockdown in Southeast Queensland (ended 4pm Sunday 8th, 2021) - with some restrictions continuing - eg masks, number limits within churches.

The Queensland Government has lifted the lockdown in Southeast Queensland as of 4 pm Sunday the 8th of August. 

Our Parish Office will be open again from Monday the 9th in our regular contact hours of Monday-Friday 9 am to 12 noon.

Weekday Masses will also resume Monday to Friday at 9 am, at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters,  from 9 am 9th August onwards.  There is a limit of 250 people inside the Sacred Heart church and the government requires everyone to check in with the Queensland Check-in App on entry and show the success page to the attendant. Masks must be worn while in the church and office etc and outside. 

Limits to numbers will be allowed for each church within the parish, for Masses on the weekends -

You do not have to pre-book via any booking application, but please note that we do have a limit on numbers. 

Sacred Heart 250

St Vincents 150

Stella Maris 100

Checking in with the Queensland Check-in App is required, as masks. 

thanks for your patience and support. 

There are new restrictions that will remain in place through 4:00pm on Sunday 22 August as follows:

 Mask wearing will be mandatory indoors regardless of whether you can socially distance or not. You must wear a face mask at all times when you leave your home unless you have a lawful reason not to. This includes workplaces. A mask may only be removed if you are alone in a closed office.

• Please find a few updates for your attention based on questions we’ve received from parishes.

   

  1. Can we take masks off to speak or sing?  We have received the following clarification this morning (9/9/21):
  1. Clergy and readers who are socially distanced from others may remove their mask while speaking and then put the mask back on.
  2. The choir and cantors are required to wear a mask at all times. 

   

  2. Places of Worship are required to ask people to sign in to the Qld App and ask visitors to wear masks. Marshals need to continue to be vigilant to remind people of both requirements as people enter a church

     …

     Clergy, employees, or parish volunteers are expected to do what’s reasonably practical, such as helping to explain that a person is putting themselves and others at risk and using their best endeavours to encourage visitors to wear masks.  However, it is not up to the parish to try to force the individual to leave in that case.  The onus is on the individual. 

• Indoor occupancy restrictions for places of worship (including baptisms) and indoor venues such as offices will return to:

o   1 person per 4 square metres

·        Funerals and weddings are restricted to a maximum of 20 people including the celebrant.

·        Visitor restrictions have eased at vulnerable person facilities (hospitals, aged care and disability accommodation services). Please contact the facility to receive directives regarding visitation as some restrictions may apply.

…·        You can access the most recent Covid Safe Roadmap here. Queensland has current contact tracing alerts with new venues and sites being regularly updated. For more information please visit www.health.qld.gov.au.  Keep in mind that the websites may not yet be refreshed with the new protocols. 

Sincerely,

The Parish Team.

(Please note a limited number of people will be able to attend a lowkey mass Sunday night at 6 pm on the 8th of August at Sacred Heart Clear Island Waters, but the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass still applies for everyone during these covid times).  Vulnerable people are encouraged to consider continuing to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, as this highly contagious delta virus has not been eradicated from the community by any means). 

Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish,

50 Fairway Drive,

Clear Island Waters,

Queensland, 4226

Parish Phone: 07 5572 5433 

www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au