We gained 30 more people inside our church this past weekend.

4 PM        139           6

6 PM          90           1

8 AM          77           4

10 AM      150           8

12 PM        80           4

2 PM          61           2

     I thank those who switched from the 4 o'clock Mass to another time.  It seems that many of you attended the 6 PM Mass.  That allowed new people to come to the 4 PM Mass.

     We were comfortable with 150 at the 10 AM Mass, but I alert you to there being more room at the 6 PM, 8 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM Masses.

     With the growing number of people returning to Mass, I'll continue to provide numbers so that you can strategize about the best Mass to attend.

     Today is the 41st anniversary of my First Holy Communion on May 10, 1980.  I encourage everyone to celebrate your anniversaries of Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Marriage, and Holy Orders.

     Consider celebrating the moment of your creation when God infused your soul into your one celled body just formed from the love of your parents.  If you don't know the date, then estimate it.  Human gestation is usually about nine months.  I'm fast approaching the anniversary of my ensoulment on about May 20, 1971.  I will have been on this planet for about 50 years.  It will also be the day I become fully vaccinated.

     Our church has been open for private prayer Monday through Friday, 2-4 PM, and Monday, 6-7 PM.  I've noticed more and more people seem to have their wits about them.  The pandemic threat is much less.

     So, we're going to expand the hours that the church is open for private prayer starting next week, the week of May 17th.

     Mondays and Fridays will stay the same so that we can do extra cleaning including fogging.  We'll continue to have a greeter to guide people for confessions on Monday and the holy hour (with confessions) on Friday.

     On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the church will remain open after the daily Mass until 4 PM.  We'll post a sign reminding people to wear a mask and ask them to place a "Reserved" sign at the place where they sit so that no one else sits there until the spot is disinfected.  We will not have a greeter present.

     Note that the church will not be open for private prayer when a funeral is taking place.  Funerals are usually at 10 AM, sometimes at 12 PM.  Check our calendar on our website, stjohnlakehurst.com, for funeral times.  If you click on the funeral, you'll see the name of the deceased.  Please pray for those who have died and their loved ones.

     I don't know when the mask mandate and social distancing will lessen inside our church.  But I'm thrilled that we're slowly returning to something like normal.

God love you,

Fr. Jim