From NBC News:
“13 sisters at Michigan convent
die from the coronavirus”
A dozen Felician sisters at a
convent in Michigan died from COVID-19 in a single month, and a 13th sister
died six weeks later, according to their order. The convent, the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Livonia, about 20 miles west of Detroit, also
has another 17 sisters who had the disease caused by the coronavirus but
recovered. "We all knew if it hit the place, it would be bad," Sister
Mary Ann Smith, who was sick with the virus from mid-April until the end of
May, told the Global Sisters Report. "But we never anticipated how quickly
it would go." She told the outlet that when she was ill, she thought her
life was ending. "I was so sick, I would pray the Lord would take
me," she said. "I was in so much pain." From April 10, which was
Good Friday, to May 10, 12 sisters ranging in age from 69 to 99 died of
COVID-19 at the convent. A 13th sister, Sister Mary Danatha Suchyta, died of
the disease June 27 at age 98. Sister Suchyta had been a member of the Felician
congregation for 80 years, and all 13 who died were members for at least 50
years, according to a list provided by Suzanne English, executive director for
mission advancement for Our Lady of Hope Province, which oversees the 469
Felician sisters in about 60 convents around the United States and Canada. "We
grieve for each of our sisters who has passed during the time of the pandemic
throughout the province, and we greatly appreciate all of those who are holding
us in prayer and supporting us in a number of ways,” Sister Mary Christopher
Moore, provincial minister of Our Lady of Hope, said. Forty-four sisters now
live at the Michigan convent, down from 57 in April, English said. Felician
sisters may move among the convents as they accept new ministry assignments. Across
the U.S., many facilities that house or care for the elderly have been ravaged
by the virus. To help slow the spread of the virus, Felician Sisters of North
America has put in place protocols that include bans on visitors, the
replacement of in-person Mass with livestream services, and the elimination of
communal dining and other group activities. Several sisters in the order who
have had COVID-19 are still recovering from a variety of effects, including
continuing weakness and respiratory issues, English said.
^This is sad. I have been around Nuns
and know how hard they work in and around the community. The only goof thing is knowing they are now in Heaven. ^
https://www.yahoo.com/news/13-sisters-michigan-convent-die-163900535.html
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