Easter church services to livestream from home amid coronavirus crisis

Coronavirus restrictions mean common Easter activities have been ruled out this year but that does not mean you have to miss the church services.

Catholics around Australian will be able to watch Easter services despite strict lockdown rules being in place.

Australians have been urged to stay home this long weekend, with residents warned police will be out in droves to fine anyone caught “deliberately and blatantly” breaching social distancing, mass gathering or self-isolation rules.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said recently that churches would be considered work places so religious leaders could virtually broadcast services.

“We agreed today that Easter and religious services are being done in a streaming or broadcast mode,” he said at the time. “Churches are not open. Places of worship are not open. We want to be very clear about that.

“But we had a lot of feedback from religious communities that there are ways the services are conducted and they'll be able to do that respecting, absolutely, the 4sq m per person rule.”

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The Prime Minister urged Australians to be patient over the next six months in his latest address. Picture: Gary Ramage.

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY

Channel 7 will stream Easter services live from St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.

The Lord’s Passion will be broadcast on Good Friday at 3pm and Easter Sunday Mass at 10.30am on channel 7 and live-streamed on 7plus.

“These national broadcasts mean people of all ages and no matter where they live or are currently isolating, will now be able to participate in the Mass,” Archbishop Anthony Fisher told Catholic Weekly.

“I know it will be especially welcome news to those living in nursing homes and aged care facilities who will especially be feeling the sting of separation from family over Easter, due to the restrictions on visits, and whose connection to their faith remains strong.”

Other Easter services from the cathedral can be live streamed by visiting its website.

Easter services will be broadcast live by 7 News from St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. Picture: Supplied.

ST JOHN’S MAROUBRA ANGLICAN

St John’s Anglican Church will begin streaming online services on Good Friday at 9am and on Easter Sunday at 9am, 10.30am and 6.30pm.

Other services from St John’s can be found by visiting its website.

THE UNITING CHURCH AUSTRALIA

The Uniting Church has compiled a list of nationally streamed live services.

Churches from Canberra City to Sydney’s northern beaches have taken up the call for more accessible services. A full list of Uniting Church Parishes can be found here.

HILLSONG CHURCH AUSTRALIA

Hillsong Church services have been streaming online for some time now, with a number of services offered on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Hillsong Church has moved its gatherings online in response to the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. “Our priority is that we stay connected as a church family and that we are a blessing to our community. Therefore, our buildings may be closed, but church is not,” the website reads.

The Hillsong website has a full list of Good Friday and Easter Services being streamed across the country.

ST STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL, BRISBANE

Brisbane’s Catholic archbishop will conduct an Easter service from St Vincents Private Hospital at 7pm on Thursday. Archbishop Mark Coleridge said it was about “going where the action is” instead of preaching in a cathedral with no congregation.

It will be livestreamed on the diocese’s website and Archdiocese of Brisbane Facebook page.

Other services — also livestreamed — will still go ahead inside an empty St Stephen’s Cathedral on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.