It’s a heart-wrenching tale that unfolded inside a Roman Catholic convent in Michigan. A total of thirteen nuns tragically lost their lives to COVID-19. As the virus spread like wildfire within the walls of the Felician Sisters convent, the devastating reality of its deadly nature became all too clear. These brave women, ranging in age from sixty-nine to ninety-nine, succumbed to the virus that has plagued the world in recent times.
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, based in Livonia, Michigan, bore the brunt of this unimaginable loss. Among the deceased were teachers, an author, and a secretary for the Vatican Secretariat of State. Their absence from our world will be deeply felt.
This tragedy marks the greatest loss of life for a community of women religious since the 1918 influenza pandemic. It’s been over a hundred years since such a devastating blow has been dealt to a religious order.
The nuns, due to their advanced age and close-knit community, were particularly vulnerable to the virus. Their daily lives involved living, praying, and working together. Unfortunately, the virus found its way into the isolated convent through two aides who unknowingly carried the infection with them. From that point on, it spread rapidly, much like it has in other places where the elderly reside, such as nursing homes.
During the month that followed, a sister fell victim to COVID-19 every other day. In total, thirteen nuns lost their lives, while eighteen others contracted the virus but survived. To make matters even more challenging, the sisters were unable to attend the funerals of their fallen sisters due to the health guidelines and the risk of transmission. This deprived them of the chance to properly commemorate the lives of these remarkable women and bid them farewell as they entered the afterlife.
The majority of these untimely deaths occurred between April 10 and May 10, with an additional sister passing away on June 27. The grief, sorrow, and emotional impact of these events were overwhelming for the surviving nuns. Noel Marie Gabriel, the director of clinical health services for the Felician Sisters of North America, reflects on that period as a time of unimaginable tragedy and mourning that forever altered their way of life.
This unfortunate incident is not an isolated one. Many other nuns have lost their lives to the coronavirus across the country. However, due to the lack of adequate data tracking, the exact number remains unknown.
The painful story of these thirteen nuns serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating toll that COVID-19 can take, especially on vulnerable populations. It compels us all to continue taking necessary precautions, such as wearing masks, to protect ourselves and those around us. Let us honor the memory of the Felician Sisters and countless others by staying vigilant and doing our part in defeating this deadly virus.
