"Having a mass liturgy without music is like drinking non-alcoholic red wine - not very good!"
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But with restrictions easing around singing yesterday, now allowed with masks, Fr Chris Onuekwusi from St Edwards Catholic Church will be getting drunk off the sound of music, just in time for Christmas.
Anglican minister Rod Chiswell was also overjoyed at the news Christmas carols could now be sung and the four-square metre apart rule had been dropped to two.
"Our capacity rises from 150 to 300 if we need it to, which is brilliant for church services coming into Christmas," he said.
"It also means we can sing with masks on inside. That's a big change. We haven't been able to sing in church since March, so this is great coming into the season for carols."
After making the tough call to not hold the combined churches Christmas carols event this year, he is a little disappointed the announcements weren't made sooner.
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He said churches were hosting their own carols events, as it was too late to organise and fund the joint event which could now have been held.
Fr Chris said the raft of announcements had already been welcomed by his parishioners.
They've been busy scheduling extra services for the large Christmas congregations, as even with the reduced distancing rules they wouldn't have enough room for all.
"I am also trying to organise a family mass a St Edward's school oval, where we can have 500 people, however I am just waiting for the Bishop's approval."
