On this page, we seek to give account of how different faith communities in Australia – in many states – are providing devotional and spiritual activities for their adherents in this time of Coronavirus – when places of worship in Australia have been closed by the government. There is much information here, more is welcome. Use our contact page if you do not find your community listed, and you wish to have your commumnity’s offerings listed here.
Update: There are a number of new links added for Christian worship in languages other than English.
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is Saturday, 28 March 2020.
!This year, we are facing Earth Hour in exceptional circumstances with countries around the world experiencing a health crisis with the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We recognize the exceptional challenge that the world is facing and we thank you for your support as we try to realign our Earth Hour work appropriately. In light of the latest developments, the Earth Hour global organizing team is recommending all individuals to take part in Earth Hour digitally this year.
Switch off for an hour at home
The DNA of the Earth Hour movement. Switch off your lights at home for an hour on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at 8:30 pm your local time.
Plan on staying in? We’ve put together a list of 20+ things you can do for a memorable (and impactful) on-the-night experience all from comfort of your home!
https://latest.earthhour.org/earthhour-at-home?hsCtaTracking=a59a6b0e-bcb9-4f4c-8451-e8c8e6cb1ef7%7C74c3ac20-40d9-4d18-af72-ab8e692e8ede
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Update: Resources for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 29, 2020) – https://bit.ly/fifthsundayoflent
To help you invite Christ into your homes and to facilitate praying through this Lenten season, the ACBC has produced liturgical resources and collated links to prayer resources and online masses: https://bit.ly/ACBC_PrayAtHome
For up-to-date COVID-19 protocols from different Australian dioceses click here (for more information, contact your local diocese or parish):
https://bit.ly/ACBC_coronavirus
These are truly extraordinary times. As Catholics, we cannot help but feel the fear and pain of being separated from our physical Church, the Sacrament and each other. But we must not lose sight of God’s hand that is always outstretched to us, wherever we may be, and continue to pray together:
Liturgy of the Hours
Cairns is live-streaming the Liturgy of the Hours:
https://www.cathnews.com/cathnews/37588-cairns-livestreams-liturgy-of-the-hours
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
Archbishop Anthony Fisher will celebrate Mass live-streamed from the Cathedral on Sunday at 10:30am
I invite you to watch a live-stream of the 1030am Mass I will be celebrating privately this Sunday at St Marys Cathedral, Sydney The Mass will be available online via this link: https://www.stmaryscathedral.org.au/ as well as directly streamed to the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Facebook page. Please be assured that your priests, even if they cannot celebrate Mass with you during this time of pandemic, are celebrating Mass for you- and not just today but every day.
St Mary’s Cathedral is launching a simple way for parishioners to continue offering ‘Prayer Intentions’ and ‘Petitions to Our Lady’ by sending an email to:
prayerintentions@stmaryscathedral.org.au or petitionstoourlady@stmarycathedral.org.au – Each day, received ‘Prayer Intentions’ will be passed on to resident clergy and prayed for by the cathedral priests in their daily Masses and Offices. Every week the ‘Petitions to Our Lady’ will be included as the intention at the Saturday 12 Noon Mass. These arrangements will be in place until public liturgies resume in the Cathedral. God Bless!
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney (Continued)
Sydney Bishop Richard Umbers will be live-streaming Mass this weekend.
Saturday 10 am. Normal Mass in the chapel ie Novus Ordo in Latin – with English readings.
Sunday 10 am. Parish Mass for St Paul of the Cross – all English.
See https://www.sydneycatholic.org/live-masses/
The Catholic Weekly has gone digital while churches are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic! Reads just like the paper version – now accessible on all devices, anywhere! Read the entire newspaper for free here: https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/catholic-weekly-newspaper-online/ The Catholic Weekly site (https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/) will also feature prayers, videos, photo galleries and podcasts with a focus on helping Catholics continue to live faith-filled lives through these difficult times.
If you have any stories about how clergy, religious and parishes are responding in these turbulent times you can send them to: cweditor@catholicweekly.com.au
Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh
Melbourne Jain Sangh (community) advises that the Temple is closed for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency.
http://www.msjs.org.au/
Sikh Volunteers Australia
Due to current situation with Covid-19, Sikh Volunteers Australia extending Free food delivery service for one more week. Thanks everyone who are supporting us to make it possible. South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne and Gippsland.
See https://www.facebook.com/sikhvolunteers.australia/ for more information
Syro Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle, Melbourne
Daily Masses (Holy Qurbana) offered online, Live, Malayalam language:
he following schedule will be followed:
Sundays at 10.00 am and 5.00 pm(AEDT)
Weekdays at 10.00 am -5.00 pm (Monday-Saturday)(AEDT)
Shalom TV : https://syromalabar.org.au/watch-live/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Syro-Malabar-Eparchy-of-St-Thomas-the-Apostle-MelbourneAustralia-1491181514523271/
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Streams services using Facebook live.
Uniting Church – Victoria and Tasmania
Online churches
Live streaming congregations/Faith Communities
- Glen Waverley UC 10am worship livestreamed
- The Village UC, Mount Eliza 10am livestreamed & recorded
- St David’s UC, Geelong 10am livestreamed & recorded
- North Balwyn UC 10am livestreamed & recorded
- Canterbury UC 10.30am livestreamed
- Cornerstone, Korean Church of Melbourne 2.30pm livestreamed & recorded
- North Ringwood UC 9.30am & 6.30pm, livestreamed
- Murrumbeena UC 10am, livestream
- Sonder Collective 5.30pm 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month via discord. Visit Sonder Facebook page to request link
- Banyule Network 10am livestreamed & recorded
Manningham UC 10am, livestreamed & recorded
Recorded worship
Pre-recorded or podcast
Recorded worship
Recorded Sermon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucavictas/
In Languages other than English
If you want to experience worshipping God on Sunday with congregational leaders who speak languages other than English, here is the list:
Mascot Wesley Uniting Church (Tongan)
https://www.facebook.com/mascotwesley.unitingchurch.7/videos
Tonga Parish Media
https://www.facebook.com/tpmuca/
Gospel Hall Melbourne UCA (Chinese)
https://www.facebook.com/ucaucghm/?ref=br_tf
Taiwanese UCA Brisbane (Taiwanese)
https://www.facebook.com/taiwanuca/
St Albans (Filipino) UCA Melbourne (English)
https://www.facebook.com/stalbansunitingchurch
St Andrews UCA Melbourne (Indonesian)
http://saguc.org.au/
GKI Perth UCA (Indonesian)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRx8jTTkDBI&feature=youtu.be
Hanbit UCA Melbourne (Korean)
Youtube: Hanbit Korean church of Melbourne
Executive Council of Australian Jewry – National Bulletin #2
Jewish community organisations and leaders across Australia have intensified their efforts to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Jewish institutions, families, individuals and, most especially, the elderly and vulnerable. We recognise with deep appreciation the continuing work being done by the Jewish community roof bodies in each State, the Crisis Management Teams of the Community Security Groups, shules, the Day Schools, the aged care sector, the welfare sector and volunteers, and commend them for the high sense of responsibility they have demonstrated.
Read National Bulletin #2 here
To download this statement in PDF format, click here.
Buddhists:
24 hour Chanting all around the World
Invitation to join a Buddhist global chanting stream across all time zones in the challenging time we are all facing …
Albury Wat (Albury Buddhist Monastery
The health and wellbeing of the community is our top priority.
In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 we decided to turn our regular Sunday service to be online service on facebook live.
https://www.facebook.com/events/439555763506353/
Start 10.00 am
10.00am Dhammachak Chanting
10.18am Meditation
10.45am End of the online service
Melbourne Buddhist Centre
Thursday Nights at the Melbourne Buddhist Centre
Thursday Nights Dharma Zoom Event
26 March, 7.30-8.30pm,
‘Itir’s’ Journey to Ordination
Thursday nights go online! Zoom in to hear Itir talk about her journey to Ordination. This will be our first live streamed talk with opportunities for Q&A.The talk will start promptly at 7.30pm. Please follow this Zoom link to join us:
Please go to this page to obtain the Zoom link
Quakers Australia (Society of Friends)
Australian Yearly Meeting has been cancelled, and moved to an online event. You can login and find more here.
WITHIN REGIONAL MEETINGS
- Canberra Regional Meeting: CRM will hold an online Meeting for Worship on Sundays, 10am via Zoom. Please connect around or before 9:45 so that difficulties can be sorted out beforehand. The link to the Zoom meeting is https://zoom.us/j/822832147. For support, contact Michael Searle (michael.searle@iinet.net.au or 0428630691) and he will assist you. Other CRM Worshipping Groups/Recognised Meetings are deciding what to do about online meetings.
- New South Wales Regional Meeting: NSWRM Online Meetings for Worship thus far are: Katoomba Worshipping Group on Thursdays at 2.00-3.15pm via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/105065781; Wahroonga Local Meeting on Sundays at 9.30am via Zoom https://acu.zoom.us/j/6622870583 (join at 9.15am please)
- Queensland Regional Meeting: Brisbane Western Suburbs Local Meeting and Darling Downs Recognised Meeting are not meeting for face-to-face Meetings for Worship, and like other meetings are investigaitng using Zoom to meet for worship.
- South Australia/Northern Territory Regional Meeting: Adelaide Local Meeting is suspending Meetings for Worship, Shared Lunches and Meetings for Worship for Business until further notice.
- Tasmania Regional Meeting taken the difficult decision to stop face-to-face worshipping together in Tasmania until further notice, however Friends will meet online for worship. Please see the TRM webpage for additional information.
- Victoria Regional Meeting: All Meetings will not be meeting face-to-face for the time being. See the VRM webpage for updates. However, you are welcome to join these online meetings using Zoom: Northern Suburbs Local Meeting: 10.30am, contact Sue Ennis for details on sensa@bigpond.net.au; Melbourne City Meeting, 10.30am, please join 15 minutes early at the Zoom meeting room: https://zoom.us/j/9491933490.
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West Australian Regional Meeting (WARM) will be holding its first state-wide online zoom MfW (Meeting for Worship) this coming Sunday 29 March. MfW itself will begin at 10am Perth time and finish around 11am. From 11:30am, Henry Esbenshade will be giving a presentation about QSA (Quaker Service Australia) which all fFriends are invited to attend online. From the close of MfW at 11am until the start of Henry’s presentation, there will be an open opportunity for fFriends across WARM (and indeed, across the world) to chat with each other online informally. The link itself will be open from 9:45am, 15 minutes before MfW begins. We invite all fFriends to arrive early so that we can settle into this sacred online experience. Please click this link on Sunday to join us: https://zoom.us/j/9036798841
Quakers Australia Online Meetings:
We offer an online Meeting for Worship and all are welcome to attend.
- A Meeting is held every Sunday: during October to March at 5pm for TAS, VIC, ACT, NSW / 4pm for QLD / 4:30pm for SA/ 3:30pm for NT / 2pm for WA; during April-September at 5pm for TAS, VIC, ACT, NSW, QLD / 4:30pm for SA, NT / 3pm for WA
- The Meeting for Worship starts when anyone “enters the virtual Meeting Room”.
- It is a Meeting for Worship in silence.
- Spoken ministry is possible.
- It will last approximately 30 minutes.
-
At the conclusion there will be the opportunity to “meet” with others.
More information and links to join on this page
Cragieburn Gurudwara
NO ATTENDANCE AT GURUDWARA!
Live streaming of Parkash
https://igurudwara.com/craigieburn/live-streaming-from-gurudwara-sahib/
See Main Page for Diwan times.
Guru sewa is being done in collaboration with Khalsa Foundation:
Sikh Community Brisbane
Those people who wisth to donate please Donate, we need Rice, personal necessities, (Toilet Roll, paper towel, hand wash soap or liquid, tissue box).
Please Note – We have only vegetarian food and This project is for every community especially to self-isolated people due to Coronavirus, elderly people or anyone who need it so please don’t hesitate we will try to help as much as we can .
We will keep update all information.
Stay Safe Stay Strong Stay Kind
Contact: 0432710523, 0430 501 168, 0430 103 025
South Australia
Proposed Prayer Vigil for Climate Healing
An ecumenical and interfaith prayer vigil
Tuesday, 7 April 2020 6:00pm -8:00pm
North bank of the river, Karrawirra (Park12)
(Near the University Footbridge)
We invite people from all faith communities to gather at 5.30pm in the city; either at a place significant for your own faith, or near the plaque at the Sri Chinmoy Peace Park opposite the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on Sir Edwin Smith Avenue, North Adelaide.
Each community is invited to bring a flask of water, symbolizing our connection with the divine according to our own tradition; and to wear clothes
distinctive of our various traditions.
From these places we will walk quietly to meet together at 6pm by the river near the University footbridge, at the landing place near the boat sheds.
There we will observe some silence, be Welcomed to Country by a Kaurna elder, and join in a circle to pray. There will be a symbolic pouring of water into a single vessel. This will then be poured into the river by the Kaurna elder, symbolizing our prayers for healing of our common home. There will be time to reflect together and hear a few words by Dr. Deidre Palmer, president of the Uniting Church.
Download a Flyer for this event
Uniting Church: Canberra Region Presbytery
Canberra Region Presbytery that there has been teleconferencing among leadership and announces, inter-alia,
Weekly Cycle of Prayers and Devotions
See Also, Week9 Weekend Prayers
Livestreaming of Worship around Australia
See also, Uniting Church in Australia Facebook
Hobart Mosque
Mosque Access Suspended Temporarily
Assalamu Alaikum!
The Federal Government of Australia has announced some further measures to stop spread of coronavirus and closing the places of worship is one of them. We have also received the latest statements from the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) regarding this.
After having a discussion among the committee members, TMA have decided to suspend the Five Daily Congregational Prayers at the Hobart Mosque until further notice. Please increase Istighfar during this crisis. May Allah swt protect us all from this calamity and allow us to resume our worship in the Masjid soon InShaAllah.
Regards,
Tasmanian Muslim Association.
Northern Territory:
Casuarina Parish (Catholic)
Daily video, The Journey to Easter
https://www.facebook.com/Casuarina.Parish/
Western Australia
Western Australia has travel restrictions, in addition to restrictions on places of worship.
Read Uniting Church Western Australia Synod update
The Uniting Church WA Prayer Venue
Let us say a little prayer for you!
The Uniting Church WA Prayer Venue is a safe space to unite in prayer, where you can join us at 11.00am (AWST) daily as we pray against the #Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We’re also taking prayer requests, so do send them to us on the page
https://www.facebook.com/UCWAPrayerVenue/
Global Call to Creatives
United Nations and Flattening the Curve
“For the first time, the United Nations is launching an Open Brief to creatives everywhere to help spread public health messages in ways which will be effective, accessible and shareable. Together we can flatten the curve.
This isn’t a single campaign. We are looking for a multitude of creative solutions to reach audiences across different cultures, age groups, affiliations, geographies and languages. We are asking you to extend your imagination, raise your ambition and lend your support and ingenuity”
With the coronavirus spreading to all corners of the world, the United Nations is enlisting the help of creatives around the world in areas not yet overrun by the disease to avoid or minimize the outbreak.
The United Nations, in its ‘Global Call to Creatives: An Open Brief from the United Nations’, states that it needs help “translating critical public health messages into different languages, different cultures, communities and platforms, reaching everyone, everywhere”.
“We need to meet people where they are, with a stream of fresh, innovative content which drives home the personal behaviors and societal support needed today. We are equipping you with WHO-provided knowledge and messages to spread,” said the call to action.
The UN is launching this first-ever open brief to creatives everywhere to help spread the public health messages in ways which will be effective, accessible and shareable.
The UN called out six key areas of activation it hopes to hit with its ‘mini-briefs or episodes’: personal hygiene, social distancing, know the symptoms, myth-busting and do more, donate.
Each brief lists the areas of focus, inspiration, existing UN assets and the tone it would like creators to use. For instance, for physical distancing, it states maintaining a six-foot distance from others and having people stay at home. For inspiration, it lists balcony concerts, social distancing matches and a ‘Together, At Home’ concert series toolkit.
In concluding, it notes the formats needed – video, graphics, audio, activation and solidarity ideas – plus the platforms it will be spreading information and the languages needed.
“We plan to amplify and share the best responses to this brief as widely as possible,” states the brief. “We’re moving fast and we hope you can too. By following the WHO key messages and sharing them truthfully and effectively, you can help Flatten the Curve yourself.”
Those who want to join the effort are asked to fill out a form on Google Forms, or contact StrategyHub@UN.org.
Gathering Together While Apart
Friday, April 3
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Online Gathering
Click here to register.
Featuring acclaimed author and facilitator Priya Parker, “Gathering Together While Apart” will discuss our sudden shift away from in-person gatherings, exploring how we can create intimate, meaningful opportunities for connection during this unpredictable time.
During this hour-long conversation, Priya will share creative, real-life examples of people convening while #TogetherApart. She will invite participants to think through how to be intentional, effective gatherers who create magic between people during a time of social distance.
Whether planning online worship services, a virtual family Seder, or an upcoming staff retreat, learning the Art of “Gathering Together While Apart” is one of many ways we can work together to prevent a loneliness boom during the coming months.
Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue
Launching Leaders Worldwide is offering a course free for all family and friend groups!
While at home…
Your family can spend quality time together by taking the Launching Leaders online course. The course is rich in video, highly interactive, and is great for families. Invite your friends to participate too! Topics include:
- Identifying your core values
- Planning for your life
- Developing positive habits
- Living the formula for success
- Finding and adopting mentors
- Living a congruent life (not a double life)
- Becoming financially fit
- Giving back
We hope this helps as many of us throughout the world are being asked to stay at home to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Email to set up your family group today: roselene.walker@llworldwide.org
VIRTUAL LAUNCHING LEADERS GROUPS
All current Launching Leaders groups have been asked to go virtual. If you have family or friends around the world, starting a virtual Launching Leaders group could be a great way to stay in touch and learn together.
Email to set up your family group today: roselene.walker@llworldwide.org
Interested in the Climate?
Free online courses in Energy, Climate Policy and Diplomacy
With recent events facing the world today, Brexit, COVID-19 and Climate Change, it’s an uncertain time for everyone. At SOAS University of London we provide a number of distance learning options helping you continue learning wherever you are in the world.
Get a taster by signing up to a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) in areas including Financial Management, Climate Policy or Global Diplomacy.
Taught by leaders in their fields, SOAS MOOCs are free online programmes which are available to everyone and offer an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills
Diplomacy in the Modern World
Global Energy and Climate Policy
Global Diplomacy: United Nations and the World
Risk Management in the Global Economy – launching soon
Understanding Research Methods
Alternatively, visit our distance learning site to discover our full range of online Masters, Diplomas and Certificates: https://www.soas.ac.uk/distancelearning/
How American Buddhist Centers are Responding to Coronavirus
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), many Buddhist centers are taking precautions to protect against the virus and its spread. Beyond encouraging handwashing, some centers have temporarily closed, moved their operations online, and/or updated their cancellation policies for those feeling unwell. Here you’ll find a sampling of those centers and the changes they’re making. (Updated March 17.)
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
“Given the seriousness of the virus, and the increased health risk to certain populations, we have concluded that the best way to reduce potential harm is to suspend our residential courses as of Sunday, March 15th through April 23rd. For some of these courses we are going to offer a lower cost, online version through Zoom.” More information here
Berkeley Zen Center
Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) in Berkeley, California has temporarily suspended their usual activities through Saturday March 14 in response to coronavirus. BZC will re-consider whether this suspension should last longer as the week goes on and will post any updated information on their website
Boundless Way Zen
A March 15 email newsletter from Boundless Way Zen reads, in part, “At a (virtual) meeting on Saturday (March 14), the Leadership Council decided that our various Practice Groups and our Affiliate in Worcester should choose, at their own discretion, how best to move forward at this time, taking into account local conditions and city and state directives. All of the groups that we have heard from as yet, however, have decided to suspend “live” gatherings (involving the physical presence of members) either indefinitely or for at least the next two weeks. …We are exploring various ways to interact virtually during this period, and we will share what we learn with the leadership teams of our affiliate and practice groups.”
Buddhist Churches of America
From a message by Bishop Kodo Umezu: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many temple and church services and events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice. Though you are not able to physically be at your temples and churches, you can listen to the chanting of Juseige, Sanbutsuge and Junirai on our website.”
Buddhist Temple of Toledo
The Buddhist Temple of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio posted a video to their Facebook page outlining the shifts they will be making in response to coronavirus. They say they will try to “suspend all in-person activities at the temple” and shift to virtual events, “not cancelling anything,” and will reevaluate on April 1. The temple is looking to “find ways to keep the dharma still accessible, vital, and connected.”
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center (CIMC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts has announced that it will be closed for 6 weeks, and has announced an “online beginner’s drop-in.”
There is much information here, more is welcome. Use our contact page if you do not find your community listed, and you wish to have your commumnity’s offerings listed here.
