Joe Biden dodges snowflakes to attend Sunday mass at his local parish in Wilmington

President Joe Biden attended Mass at his home parish Sunday amid heavy snow brought on by Winter Storm Quade and brought along his granddaughter Natalie.

The president visited St. Joseph on the Brandywine in the morning, as Winter Storm Quade was still battering his hometown of Wilmington. He was accompanied by Natalie Biden, 16, daughter of his late son, Beau.

Although it had been snowing for hours, there wasn’t much accumulation, and the roads were in good shape outside the spacious house and the church Biden and his family has attended for years.

The snowfall picked up during the less than an hour Biden was attending mass, and large flakes were falling at a rapid clip by the time he left, forming a slushy mixture on the ground.

Officials could be seen sprinkling rock salt near the entrance to the church soon after he arrived, and shoveling outside the entrance shortly before he left – helping the president avoid another troublesome injury to his foot.

Biden, 78, got a clean bill of health from the White House physician on Saturday after a visit to the local orthopedist office he visited during the presidential transition. 

According to Dr. Kevin O’Connor, physician to the president, x-rays show Biden’s fractures sustained while playing with dog Major have healed. ‘Both small fractures of his foot are completely healed. These films were obtained while standing, so we could further assess that his ligamentous stability remains fully intact and strong. This injury has healed as expected, and he will return to his usual exercise regimen.’

Biden also regularly attended Mass during the campaign and transition as the nation confronted the pandemic. In Washington, he attended Mass in Georgetown at the start of his term, even dropping by a local eatery for bagels during the motorcade back to the White House.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked last week about her statements that Biden is a devout Catholic. He is the second U.S. president after John F. Kennedy to practice the Catholic faith.  

‘He does attend church nearly every weekend, and that’s something that’s important to him personally and to his family. And he’s talked about the impact of his faith on healing and everything he’s been through as a human being. So certainly it’s a guide to him as a human being,’ she said. 

Biden flew home on Air Force One Friday after a week that marked the birthdays of both his surviving son Hunter and his late son, Beau, who is buried at St. Joseph’s and who would have turned 52.