We’re supporting our Macedonian community and those celebrating All Souls Day this weekend.
This Saturday 7 November we’re anticipating an increased number of people visiting our cemeteries, and in particular Wollongong Lawn Cemetery in Wylie Road, Kembla Grange, as families come together and remember those who have passed.
A COVID-safe plan been developed to manage attendance to Wollongong Lawn Cemetery and Wollongong Cemetery in consultation with representatives from local Macedonian Orthodox churches and NSW Police.
“We know this is a significant date for many and we’ve proactively worked with representatives from the church groups and NSW Police to support our community to participate in their family traditions on All Souls Day,” Wollongong City Acting Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown said.
“All Souls Day is celebrated three times a year and traditionally the cemeteries on this date get very busy. These measures will support access and the opportunity to participate in family rituals for as many people as possible.”
For people who intend to visit as part of the church service at Kembla Grange, the following measures will be in place;
- Only two people per grave site
- The names of attendees are to be provided to the priest/volunteer following blessing
- No feasts will be allowed on site following the blessing
- Social distancing of 1.5m should be maintained between people not from the same household
- Community members attending should arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to the allotted time for each section. You may be asked to wait in your car while the previous service leaves the site.
- Once the blessing is complete, community members should leave the site to allow the next service to start.
Bookings are not required to participate, and a blessing time has been allocated for each section to ensure that a maximum of 300 people are on site at any one time, meeting the requirements under the current Public Health Order.
- Section 3: 11.30am-12.30pm
- Section 2: 12.30-1.15pm
- Section 1: 1.15-1.45pm
