The easing of restrictions on Wednesday means that it is now possible to have gatherings of up to 10 people in places of worship.
This means that we are now in a position to be able to gradually reopen after almost two months of having all our parish churches fully closed.
Beginning next week on Tuesday, May 19, St Patrick’s Church, Wangaratta, will be open for private prayer. The Church will be open Tuesdays to Sundays between 10.30am and 11.30am, as well as between 3pm and 4pm.
A maximum of 10 people across the hour will be able to visit the Church in each scheduled hour to allow for cleaning of St Patrick’s. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered on Fridays and Saturdays between 11.30am and 12pm at St Patrick’s Church, Wangaratta.
The current regulations require us to record all the contact details of people who visit the Church in case we need to make contact with anyone after they have visited.
Each Sunday beginning this weekend a pre-recorded Mass in Wangaratta will also be available on the parish website www.catholicwangaratta.org.au and via the ‘Wangaratta and King Valley Parishes’ Facebook page.
We wish to return public Masses as soon as possible. However, we are not in a position to do so at the moment given that public gatherings in places of worship is restricted to 10 people and we average 600 people at Masses across Wangaratta and the King Valley on weekends.
Even given the slight easing of restrictions, we are conscious that many people are still choosing to stay at home. If a parishioner would like to receive Holy Communion at home, they are welcome to contact the parish on 5722 1970.
We are pleased to be able to begin welcoming people back to St Patrick’s Church in Wangaratta but ask those who are feeling unwell not to visit.
Fr. Mike Pullar, PP
Parish Priest