The decision to get take any vaccine is complex.  It is something that enters our very bodies, and so it is extremely personal.  It is also a decision that must take into account medical and scientific information.  We must weigh the relative safety and effectiveness of the vaccine against the risks, to ourselves and others, of not getting vaccinated.

And the decision to get vaccinated is a social and moral decision.  Vaccines by their very nature not only protect the person vaccinated, but they protect our neighbor and the rest of society.  Vaccinations impact the common good.

As Catholic Christians we believe that God calls us to be concerned not only for ourselves but also for the common good.  As such, when we are deciding whether or not to get vaccinated, part of our decision must be not only what is good for me, but also what is good for others.

Pope Francis made this explicit in a TV interview he gave in January of this year in which he said,

“I believe that morally everyone must take the vaccine.
It is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.”
(Pope Francis, January 10, 2021)

If you have concerns or fears about getting vaccinated and you would like to talk to someone at St. Francis the friars and staff are here for you.  Please reach out to us.  All of the friars and the staff have been vaccinated.