The 4 PM Mass was about 90% full while the 6 PM was less than half.  The 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 Noon Masses were about three-quarters full.  Of all five Masses, the 12 Noon Mass may have had the most people because of large families sitting together.

     Joe and I have both noticed that parishioners are doing a better job navigating to where they can sit.  And ushers are doing a better job helping people find seats.  I thank everyone for being cooperative.  It's really very helpful.

     Visit COVIDActNow.org for the latest updates on the coronavirus throughout our country down to the county level.  It rates states and counties with four colors:  green, yellow, orange, and red.  Ocean County has been orange for some time.  New Jersey is now orange.  Orange means we are at risk of an outbreak.  Governor Murphy warned on Friday that he would increase restrictions.  It sounded like he would focus on the sources of the increased infections such as large, private parties.  As far as I can tell, we'll continue as we have been here at St. John's.

     The Ocean County Health Department publishes numbers daily.  The Asbury Park Press has published town populations.  If you divide the case count by the population, you get the infection rate for a town.  Lakewood and South Toms River have been first and second in Ocean County for quite some time.  Manchester has been third but has now dropped to fourth place.  Toms River now has an infection rate of 2.002% while Manchester is at 1.999%.

     If you divide the death count by the case count, you get a death rate of those who have tested positive.  Manchester remains far in the lead at 18.09%.

     Because I've been tracking numbers, I was not surprised by Governor Murphy's announcement on Friday.  I do not offer commentary on all the facets of his announcement or the implications for the various sectors of our society.  However, I would like to offer an idea I read at First Things.

     Both atheists and believers want to save lives.  Atheists want to save their own lives because they don't believe in life after death.  We want to save lives out of charity for our neighbor and because we have a responsibility to care for our own lives.  Atheists often experience great anxiety because of a lack of belief and trust in God.  We believers do feel anxiety, but I remind us all that we have a God who loves and desires our salvation.  The fulfillment of God's desire for us is to be with Him in heaven.  If he heals or helps us tangibly in this life, it's so that we might trust Him more with what's most important, the salvation of souls.

     I just looked at the weather forecast for tomorrow.  It looks like it could rain much of the day and get pretty windy starting at 11 AM.  I'll still be in the rectory for confessions from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM because not everyone reads these messages. I invite you to come to confession today or Wednesday and stay safe at home tomorrow.

God love you,

Fr. Jim