Taking into account the adverse conditions created due to the coronavirus pandemic and the application of restrictive measures to prevent its spread, the Holy Archdiocese of Australia has announced a number of measures that respond to the needs of parishes, priests and church employees, as well as these of the central and district offices of the Archdiocese, the institutions and schools that operate under its jurisdiction.
In more detail, in his encyclical, Archbishop Makarios of Australia announced:
(a) The exemption of parishes facing financial problems from all their financial obligations and contributions (logia) towards the Archdiocese of Australia for the current year 2020;
(b) the possibility of earning $ 1,500 fortnightly for priests and church employees who find it difficult to receive their salaries due to income reduction of the Archdiocese’s churches. In order to secure this basic income, as of March 1, after consultation between the Finance Office of the Archdiocese and the competent government authorities, the Holy Archdiocese attaches the relevant instructions to the applicants and undertakes to provide them with any assistance and necessary documents;
(c) the intention of the Archdiocese of Australia not to dismiss any employee from its central or district offices, institutions, schools and churches. At the same time, the presidents of the administrative committees, the responsible and the directors of the other organizations and institutions of the Holy Archdiocese, and the principals of the schools are asked to respect the above-mentioned principle.
In addition, Archbishop Makarios states, in collaboration with local Archiepiscopal Vicars, “we will continue to support and extend our welfare programs to our sisters and brothers who have been impacted by this crisis, making every attempt to be with them, not only in word, but primarily through our actions and initiatives.”
The clergy and parish councils eagerly welcomed the above decisions, and many of them rushed to thank Archbishop Makarios.
