15615 Laurel Street, PO Box 195, Rosedale, LA 70772 · 225.933.3288 ·
COVID 19 Vaccinations Message from Fr Tommy
February 22, 2021
Dear Beloved of Nativity,
As we approach the one year mark of when our lives began to be altered due to COVID-19, some have asked "When will we be able to get back together in a “normal way” as a church body?" My answer to that question right now is that I really don’t know when it will be safe for us to worship the way we were worshipping before COVID 19. For now we continue to build our community and seek fellowship through our limited in-person gatherings on Saturday night for church and socially distanced Bible study and other smaller events.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, continue to follow the recommended guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus until the rates of infection decrease substantially. These guidelines, of course, are to wear a mask, avoid large gathering indoors with persons outside of your household, and wash your hands frequently. The good news is that the numbers are coming down in our region.
Many members of our parish now have the opportunity to get vaccinated — and, in the weeks ahead, more and more parishioners will be eligible to schedule their vaccinations. The goal of gathering like we used to is attainable, if we get as many parishioners vaccinated as quickly as we can. Here are the specific steps that each of you can take in that regard:
Get Vaccinated as Soon as Possible!
If you are 65 or over, you can now begin the process of scheduling an appointment to get vaccinated by going to the following site: https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine-locations/
People who are age 16 – 64 with particular health conditions may also be eligible for a vaccine. Check that information on our state’s health department page. https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/
Ask for help (if you need it)! If you need help navigating a website to get signed up for a vaccination (or any other related help), let someone in our community know – and I will call to help you – or get someone else in the parish to call to help you. If you know someone else that needs help, please let us know as well! Many of the vaccine registration sites require computer literacy and/or lots of time, and we are here to help!
If you know other people who need help, please let us know as well! We are eager to support people outside our worshipping community in this effort.
Note that there is no financial cost to the individual getting vaccinated – so, though other issues may arise, ability to pay is not a barrier.
If you are not planning to get vaccinated for any reason, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about any concerns that you might have-and possibly direct you to helpful resources that might allay any concerns. I am grateful to have received both vaccinations from a local health clinic where I blessed vaccines and front line workers and I can share my experience with you.
I look forward to staying in touch as we move forward into more hopeful times addressing this pandemic one vaccine and one mask at a time.
