Planning Begins for In-person Activities

Dear faithful people of Saint Peter’s, 

We write to share with you that our COVID-19 Taskforce, staff and key lay leadership are beginning to plan for a phased in-person return to Saint Peter’s activities. Our initial focus is on liturgies and community building. We will announce details for June at our Parish Festival Day on Sunday, May 23 — the Feast of Pentecost. 

In addition to COVID-19 we are navigating the dynamics of the enormous damage to our building due to the city water main break as well as the replacement of the Sanctuary’s skylights, repair to the exterior of the building, re-water proofing of 54th Street and replacement of the Chapel’s window and skylight. Any return to in-person activity is complex — ours, especially so. We are working diligently on these items and are preparing an integrated time-table to share with you in June. 

There are two things we can do to prepare for this phased in-person return to Saint Peter’s activities. 

1. As a community disproportionally affected by COVID-19 deaths, we are experiencing disproportionate vaccination rates as well. A team of volunteers is dedicated to addressing this dynamic. If you need help navigating the vaccination system or want to speak with someone who has been vaccinated, please reach out to Edgar Guerrero, Parish Secretary, at 646.438.2644. 

2. Knowing current best-practices and guidelines is important for each of us, and especially for our life together at Saint Peter’s. Take a moment to read current New York State COVID guidelines for houses of worship (in ENGLISH or SPANISH). Among other things, this will give you some sense of what to expect at Saint Peter’s. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed our Church, New York City, this Nation and much of the world last year, few of us imagined the physical distancing we have sustained for more than 12 months. In this time we have formed community in new and unexpected ways. Far from being apart, we have drawn together. Even still, we long to be safely in each other’s physical presence. 

This spring has brought hopefulness into our lives — a hopefulness many have not felt in more than a year. Vaccinations, lowered infection rates, mitigation measures and advancements in treatments have shaped and continue to shape an encouraging outlook. 

We hope you will share the growing sense of encouragement we feel. The journey is not yet over, but as with the promise of Easter, so too we remain confident in the new life that is ahead of us. 

Grace and peace to you, 

Jared R. Stahler, Senior Pastor
Fabián Arias, Pastor