Every October the Archdiocese requires each parish to count those attending Mass on Saturday evenings and Sundays. This gives each parish and the Archdiocese a glimpse of a parish’s vitality.

For October 2023, our average Saturday/Sunday attendance was 358. The highest Sunday attendance was 394 and the lowest was 314. On no Sunday did we break 400. My hope is that in 2024 our average Mass attendance will be 400+. These numbers are spread over 5 Masses, making our average 2023 attendance for each Saturday/Sunday Mass to be 72.

From my observation, more than one third of our Mass attendees are visitors. Serving visitors to Philadelphia is an important part of our mission. We are also blessed with many young adults, students and young workers. These young adults are a blessing to our parish, but they rarely settle in Center City to raise their children. But animating their faith is also an important mission and a service to them and to the Church. Our long term regular parishioners are a minority of our Mass attendees but they are the support and sustenance of Saint John’s. God bless our faithful parishioners!

Our weekday ministry is also important. Every day people come to Saint John’s for Mass, quiet prayer and confessions. Most of these are also not parishioners.

It is the mission of Saint John’s to serve weekday workers, tourists and visitors, students and passersby as well as our parishioners.

Like every parish, Saint John’s attendance dropped during the Covid pandemic. Attendance is rising, but we have not reached pre-pandemic numbers. But participation is increasing.

Every baptized person is called to be a “missionary disciple”, one who brings others to Christ. Please continue to participate at Saint John’s. The presence of each person is an encouragement to all others. And invite your friends and co-workers to be join us for prayer and worship.