Covid's effect on church leaders in India: 168 priests, 116 nuns dead in second wave


Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, May 21: The second wave of Covid19 has hit everyone hard. The world has lost a large number of lives. The second wave has taken life of people from every religion, caste and creed.

The deadly virus has largely claimed the lives of many religious priests and nuns in India in its second wave.

‘Indian Currents’, one of the premier publications of India, has compiled a list of priests and nuns in India who succumbed to the second wave of Covid19. Till date, 168 priests and 116 religious nuns have died in the pandemic’s second wave. There could be several others about whom no information has been received.


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The priests and nuns have been in the forefront of social service during the pandemic. In the northern parts of India, a large number of priests and religious nuns along with the faithful are working for the poor and needy. There are instances of priests and nuns working as Covid warriors all over the world. But they too have been falling victims to the pandemic.

“As it can be observed that a large number of priests and nuns who have succumbed to the pandemic are those who served among the poor and downtrodden adivasi population in the dioceses of North India. Even those from the Southern dioceses, have worked in the most interior areas where medical facilities are scarce. In addition, since the onset of Covid-19, the churches along with priests, nuns and faithful, is fully engaged in assisting the infected, serving food to orphans and migrants and other related activities,” says Fr Chethan Lobo, capuchin, PRO, diocese of Udupi.

Priests in some parts of India are also serving the Covid patients by admitting them to hospitals, conducting cremation service and in many other ways. Religious nuns are involved in treating the patients in Covid hospitals and also in distributing food among the needy.

But all these good deeds have become fatal for the priests and nuns. The deceased religious nuns belong to various congregations serving in India. As many as 146 priests belonging to various dioceses and missionary congregations in India, have succumbed to Covid’s second wave.

Moreover, though the churches are closed and no public worship allowed in almost all parts of the country, yet spiritual aid to the needy people could not be stopped. Hence, conducting funeral services, assisting the sick at death bed, anointing the sick and occasional celebration of nuptials under rules laid down by the government had to be done. It could be that at such occasions, the priests and nuns were exposed to coronavirus.

While it is disheartening to see a large number of priests and nuns succumbing to Covid, yet their selfless service will be remembered for long. Their sacrifice is a great inspiration to all to serve the needy and helpless.

Dr Gerald Almeida, bishop of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, has setup a quarantine center for priests and nuns in the diocese. Many other dioceses have been following the same.

In the upcoming days, there is a need to give special attention for the health of the priests and nuns by the religious heads. All the social work and the missionary services are equally important as the health of those involved in the work.

 

 

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Sat, May 22 2021

    Anand. R. If Shoba MP is correct, ahat about 1000s of other community people who have perished Covid? You mean to say their religious heads adviced the believers not to take vaccinations. If your asumption is tight as per your logic, then you can clarify my point please.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rashad, Manipal

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Any covid services from Mangalore & Udupi diocese? Please let us know, we could join our hands too

    DisAgree [3] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • KN, Udupi

    Fri, May 21 2021

    It's interesting how a religion is brought up in the name of covid service. Had the same kind of 'analysis' been done on Hindu priests, people would have gone crying about 'communalising'. How is this article not one such? It is such a calamity the world over is facing.. but you chose to highlight one community's "service". Not to deny the service, but others across communities have also done huge services. To me, this is nothing but taking mileage of the pandemic. Poor article. Absolutely uncalled for.

    DisAgree [55] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alex, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    There are many Saints in Catholic Church in history who administered and cared during the pandemics. They caught and died in those pandemics. Jesus said, " What does it profit a man who gains the whole world but suffers loss of his only soul for eternity". Priests and Nuns should never worry about this world, but saving oneself for the next world that world which does never end. Priests must at least care for the souls of their faithful which is a duty given by Christ as shepherds of the souls of the faithful. " Good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep but bad shepherd runs away leaving the sheep for thw wolf to devour them"

    DisAgree [4] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • AGNES, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Hope Shobakka is sitting in her AC room and reading this. I hope now she gets enlightened and do some service during this pandemic.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ben D'Souza Prabhu, Mangalore, Bombay Bandra now in Canada

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Very sad news ! So many persons have perished ? We owe gratitude to Our very Compassionate Lord for protecting and caring quite a number of them, who are generally on " Front Line " in rendering Humanitarian Service to the faithful as well as the down trodden, old age, single, helpless persons around us. I pray that Our Almighty Everliving God may show Mercy on us all, especially the Honourable ones who left us for ever !

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stephen Mathias, Udupi/Lonavala

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Certain negative people have taken the advantage of the current situation to gain the political mileage and spread hatredness between the communities. God bless them and remove their negativity in their lives and fill them with virus positives.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valson Mendonsa, Mangalore/USA

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Very sad news!! May their souls RIP

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • H. Almeida., Bendur/Andheri.

    Fri, May 21 2021

    How many priests, from every religion have perished from Covid19 ??? Doctors, Nurses, medical staff, policemen, municipal staff, have all died in multitudes... There is NIL statistical data available, for these front line warriors !!! Those who minimize human inter action, wear mask and regularly wash their hands, have proper healthy diet, will certainly not be effected by this plague... Moreover vaccination is the key corner stone to stay free from Covid19 pandemic....

    DisAgree [22] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand R, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Shobha MP is correct

    DisAgree [81] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af,,,, Mangaluru

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Former IMA chief DR.KK Agarwal delhi also died after taking 2 dose of vaccination.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Subhash Chandra, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    @ Anand R, Mangalore yes einstein only Shoba MP is correct, but rest of the world has disagreed, rest of the world excluding the great Shoba didn't say that church has prevented vaccine. a little bit of education is required for a political post which of course makes Shoba disqualified, and little bit of common sense with slight IQ is needed before acknowledging the comments made by political leaders & posting them on news forum.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manohar, Udupi

    Fri, May 21 2021

    All because of negligence of publicity craze of 2 politicians.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pokka Cunnah (Da’Cunjaa), Kodiaal - Goa

    Fri, May 21 2021

    I am sure the person who hit the “ Disagree “ button hasn’t understood the article or has absolutely no feelings at the loss of a dear one, must be a hard core Bhakth for whom any thing other than his belief is anathema. May His God enlighten him.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Pokka cunha Goa,dont worry about bad grains which had fallen on border.There are also good grains fallen in a good earth and they will bring good fruits.One cant force anyone to agree what we say .Only pray God to give peace and Heaven to all who died during their service in caring the corona sick people.I feel without good work of these religious people selfless helping them .world would have been very poor.Pray God to save and give good health who still work relentless in this field ,may remain healthy .

    DisAgree [7] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Yes every loss of life is tragic & traumatic to the family members and those people who they served. But sad to say they shouldn't haveto be victims of medical mismanagement or lack of proper facilities as the reports are indicating. A proper investigation should be done to find out whether they were vaccinated, what symptoms they had, what were their parameters and what treatments they received, which experimental drugs were administered in which quantities etc. Did they follow unscientific mandates and measures too has to be taken into consideration to arrive at true cause of their martyrdom in serving the needy.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • True Indian, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Please don't open churches or other religious places for next 1 year. If anyone wants to pray in church keep the church open for individual prayers. Same for all religious places. It's better to follow this. Offerings can be done in all places when they are open.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pokka Cunnah (Da’Cunjaa), Kodial / Goa

    Fri, May 21 2021

    I hope Ms. Shobha Karandjilke the MP educated in a catholic institution is aware that without any publicity the catholics & other minority’s are selflessly devouring their time, money and energy to aid in every manner possible in this crisis. Her baseless statement about the Church (never mind RC or Protesten) telling the faithful not to vaccinate themselves is the height of ignorance and malice. The catholics have basic education and are able to discern things. I hope somebody tells her the loss of our Priests and Nuns in the call of their duty for their helpless brethren, it is easy to call for a press conference and utter some nonsense, but it is very hard to work with the sick and dying despite knowing the risk involved. Our prayers for the departed Priests and Nuns, May their souls Rest in Peace.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [74] Reply Report Abuse

  • rahula, udupi

    Fri, May 21 2021

    what about temples all over india?????

    DisAgree [13] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sp, Mangalore

    Fri, May 21 2021

    I don't think a travk has been kept of that number nationwide. But that number will be in the thousands.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sat, May 22 2021

    rahula Udipi ,what about them?Till now nothing happened.They are still existing .we spoke only about church leaders ,nuns who died due to corona who were caring corona people.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Rest in Peace ...

    DisAgree [14] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUIITH, India

    Fri, May 21 2021

    Very sad. May God Almighty grant them eternal bliss.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Covid's effect on church leaders in India: 168 priests, 116 nuns dead in second wave



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