CHRISTMAS church seating capacities were redrawn by the Queensland government in preparation for an expected wave of COVID-19 cases after the state border opened yesterday.
St Stephen’s Cathedral parish secretary Carmel Devery said she was concerned that people could be left outside waiting for a seat at Christmas Masses.
“The challenges this year are huge” she said.
Under the Christmas time rules, the cathedral, which ordinarily seats 800 people, could only seat 364 while St Patrick’s at Fortitude Valley could seat 200.
Ms Devery said once you added in the celebrant, the concelebrants, the full choir and volunteers, you could be looking at only 300 people in the congregation.
The 4pm Mass on Christmas Eve had 259 people already registered, the 6pm Mass had 222 and the Midnight Mass had 261.
“Those numbers are going to fill up in the next day or so and they’re going to be full,” she said.
The other issue is that the cathedral needed more volunteers to help marshalling for the Masses.
Ms Devery said many of the marshals throughout COVID restrictions had been picked from the Cathedral Guides and Welcomers, but many of them returned to their home parishes for Christmas.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the staff and volunteers; Christmas is a time of goodwill and good cheer to all people, and we will do what we can to welcome all people,” she said.
She said it was important to register and find out what was happening at your local church.
“If you have to register – please do register,” she said.
“And be patient and I’m sure everybody is doing the best that they can.”
