Dear Friends,
After Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris hit back-to-back home runs in the 1961 season, the beloved former manager of the New York Yankees, Yogi Berra, said, “It’s dejá vu all over again.” It feels a little like that in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic! The Omicron variant continues to impact our plans for public worship and community life at St. Bart’s. We have all been on a long journey together through the pandemic and, while we believe we are closer to the end than the beginning, we have not come to the end quite yet.
In conversation with our medical advisory group, and consistent with the latest studies reported by the Centers for Disease Control, we are asking all eligible adults who wish to attend in-person worship to be able to show proof of vaccination and a booster shot by Ash Wednesday, March 2. We are also asking children ages 5 and above to be able to show proof of vaccination. We have already made this requirement for our employees and the vast majority of our parishioners and their children have already received these vaccinations and booster shots. We will continue to offer worship online for those who do not feel comfortable worshipping in person, and we will continue to offer Sunday worship on the terrace at 11 am, where proof of vaccination is not required. Congregants on the terrace may watch our live stream from the church, and receive Holy Communion in person from a priest.
As a parish, we have responded carefully, faithfully, and generously to each of the challenges presented to us. I have been heartened by the resilience of our community of faith and by our willingness to take actions that express our love for our neighbor as well as care for ourselves. We are beginning to see a decrease in Covid infections in the city, but our continued vigilance is essential. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about these policies. In the Christian faith, it is never sufficient for some to make the journey. We seek outcomes that involve everyone being delivered safely to the other side.
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe
Rector