September 2021

Dear Parish Family:

I hope that you and your families are well and found time this summer for some much-needed R&R.

At our last update in June, we seemed to be gaining the upper hand on COVID. Now, sadly, that pendulum has swung back. Lack of vaccination, compounded by highly contagious new variants, have ignited a new surge in cases and deaths. Delaware County is again considered a community of high COVID transmission.

Roll Up Your Sleeves
So first, let me join Pope Francis and Catholic bishops worldwide in imploring all those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Do it for our kids and grandkids, who are too young to be vaccinated.
Do it for the cops and clerks and nurses and doctors and cleaners who have worked every day of this crisis. Do it for our teachers, our soldiers, for your grandparents and your in-laws. For your colleague who is battling cancer,
or another condition you are not even aware of.
Do it so that people can live and life can go back to normal.

Vaccine Myths & Exemptions
This new wave is being called a "pandemic of the unvaccinated." Tragic myths about vaccines persist. I urge you to get the facts about vaccines from the CDC.

Also, be aware that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has instructed priests not to grant vaccine exemptions on religious grounds. Christian love of neighbor surely includes taking a simple step that could save their lives and ours.

SJC Practices
At St. John Chrysostom, all of our clergy, staff and liturgical ministers are vaccinated.

We require masks for unvaccinated adults, and we trust in your compliance with this. Masks for children -- in the pews and on the altar -- is up to their parents.

Masking is also now advised in indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. Please take whatever steps you need to protect your health.
Meanwhile, our livestream Masses continue at 8 am Tuesday through Friday and on Sunday. They live on Facebook and YouTube afterward for viewing any time.

Please join us for worship whenever you can, however you can. If large gatherings are a concern, you might try one of our lightly attended daily Masses, and make that your "Sunday" Mass.
Please continue to be careful as we enter the fall. We hope to see many of you on Sept. 11-12 for our Welcome Weekend liturgies and events.