On Friday December 3rd the Traffic Light Framework comes into effect. Here in Christchurch we will be entering the Orange setting.
I have read all the information available, including the actual Order that the Government has gazetted, all the guidance given to Faith Communities and I have spoken to a number of people at the Diocese, including Archbishop Paul, and the chapel day leaders.
Under the Orange setting, nothing will be changing regarding adoring and visiting the Adoration chapel. Visiting and adoring the Adoration chapel is classed as a ‘gathering’ and thus it can operate under all three traffic lights.
Under the orange setting, the number of people allowed in the chapel must be a number that can be safely separated by 1 metre spacing and must be under 50. Therefore I have determined that we are able to have 12 chairs (people) in the chapel at present spaced 1 metre apart. Signing in via the Covid Tracer App is required and masks are recommended. Adorers or visitors are not required to show their vaccine passport.
The Catholic Parish of Christchurch North have published details of their weekday and Sunday Mass timetable. I can inform you that all weekday Masses (from Dec 6th) at St Gregory’s (9.15am and 12pm) are Vax Passport Masses only (there is a daily 7am Mass at Christ the King which is open). So if you are going from the Chapel to Mass you will be required to go through the main entrance at St Gregory’s rather than through the door in the Adoration Chapel to the main church and follow all their protocols.
For those wondering, the North parish is able to have a vaccine passport Mass in the main church at the same time as people adoring in the Adoration chapel. The advice from the government is that this can happen because they are separate indoor areas with no direct airflow. The chapel and the church also have separate entrances.
The chapel will continue to be cleaned regularly.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the numbers below. Please share this post widely with anyone you know who regularly visits the chapel but is not a rostered adorer.
Kind regards and God Bless
Matt O’Connell
Coordinator – Diocesan Perpetual Adoration Chapel
03 366 9869
