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.