The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially devastating to those in religious life, as communal living makes the normal measures taken to defeat the virus – social distancing and isolation – hard to enact. In addition, an aging population in religious life means a greater risk of death from COVID. Recently, 8 elderly sisters died within a week. There had been prior reports of widespread infections in other communities, include 13 deaths at a Michigan monastery and 5 deaths in South Africa. America has an older tribute to those in religious life who have died of COVID-19.
January 5, 2021 update: Nine sisters of St. Joseph have passed away during a COVID outbreak at their community in New York.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the others lost to COVID-19 rest in peace.
