A notice at St. Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia, on Easter Friday informs patrons of a March 23, 2020, directive by the Australian Government that places of worship must remain closed over the Easter Holidays. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
Despite the shackles of social distancing rules that are denying the community attendance to churches and places of worship this Easter, Australian Christian leaders and the country’s prime minister have delivered messages of hope and the resources to pray from home amid the CCP virus pandemic.
On April 9, Prime Minister Scott Morrison released an Easter message (pdf) in which he shared that Easter is a time of reflection and renewal. He also took the opportunity to remind the Christian community to stay home over the long-weekend holiday period.
“Though we are separate from one another, faith teaches us we can be together in spirit, even if we are physically apart,” he said.
Morrison called the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, commonly known as the novel coronavirus pandemic, a once in one hundred year event.
“At a time like this, when so much is being asked of us, the story of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection serves as a source of strength and hope,” he said.
Praying at Home
Signs on the main doors of the St Pauls Cathedral advising patrons that the Church is closed, on March 23, 2020. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
The Catholic church has used Facebook to distribute resources to the community (pdf) about how to pray at home across the Easter period and beyond. It encouraged parishioners to pray together, at the same time they would normally attend mass.
Australia’s free-to-air network Channel 7 said it will air a live broadcast of Easter masses on Good Friday at 3 p.m., and Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation will broadcast coverage of the Pope’s Easter vigil.
In an April 7 newsletter, the Lutheran Church of Australia asked for the holy week—amid the infection, disease, social isolation, and its various impacts—“Can we take time to sit with the Bible texts a little longer than usual? Will we allow God to speak to us in these days?”
