Catholics cannot gather for Mass due to coronavirus, Bishop of Sandhurst says

CATHOLIC priests will use cotton buds when they perform the sacrament of anointing to the sick and dying in a bid to minimise risks to their health.

But Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay says the threat of coronavirus makes it more important clergy are at the front line providing care and support to their ministries.

"As Pope Francis has reminded us, those who are sick and frail need to be cared for, while minimising risks to them and to ourselves," he said.

Priests performing the sacrament of anointing - previously known as Last Rites - will have to avoid contact with a person's skin, Bishop Mackinlay said.

"Cotton buds could be used to apply the oil to each person without potential for virus transmission," he said.

"A fresh cotton bud would be used for each person, with the used cotton buds being burnt later for disposal.

Sweeping changes come at one of the most important times for Christians, as they observe Lent and prepare for Easter.

"This is very distressing news to share, and will be a dramatic change in the faith life of our communities," Bishop Mackinlay said.

He said those changes would be felt at one of the most important times in the Christian calendar.

Approximately 8500 Catholics worship every Sunday at Masses in the Diocese of Sandhurst, with numbers swelling higher during Easter and Christmas Masses.

Bishop Mackinlay was unsure how many people would use the weekly online services that would replace face-to-face Sunday Masses.

"We are optimistic and were pleasantly surprised at the number of people who watched the live-stream of my ordination as a bishop in Sacred Heart Cathedral in October 2019," he said.

Update 11.28am

PRIESTS from across Bendigo's Anglican Diocese will meet this afternoon and will then announce their own changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are taking this very seriously," bishop Matt Brain said.

Heads of parishes will be briefed on the new Australian church guidelines to be issued in the wake of sweeping federal directions over public gatherings.

Changes are expected to be made public today.

Earlier

ALL public liturgies and celebrations of the Mass are cancelled until further notice at Catholic churches across Victoria.

It "may be possible" for baptisms, weddings and funerals to go ahead but Catholics will need to use precautions like social distancing.

Yet four bishops including Bendigo's Shane Mackinlay have not ruled out tighter restrictions in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

They have written to parishioners telling them not to come to Sunday services.

"We encourage you to continue active participation in the life of the Church, such as time in personal and family prayer, reflecting on the Scriptures, making spiritual communion, or participating in a Mass online," they wrote.

More guidance is expected to be released today for the diocese of Sandhurst, Sale, Ballarat and Melbourne.

Related:

The bishops urged their clergy to make themselves available to visit people, especially those unwell of vulnerable.

The latest decision comes a week after the Church altered its practices, including temporarily removing holy water and giving the Eucharist via hand rather than mouth.

The pandemic has come during Lent, when Catholics prepare to observe the death and resurrection of Jesus.

More to come.

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.