Catholic Monasteries And Convents Experiencing COVID-19 Outbreaks

On September 23, the Tanay Carmelite Monastery announced that a number of their cloistered nuns have tested positive for COVID-19. They said that of the 18 nuns, 12 tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and the six others were negative.

“We are fully vaccinated except one Sister who is still taking chemo tabs,” the Monastery said in a statement. According to them, they can all be considered mild cases even while being symptomatic. “Your prayers will be very much appreciated… Don’t worry about us; we are hoping to recover and whatever happens, someday we will praise Him together in the Kingdom of Light and say with Mary, “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name!” We love you all,” they ended their statement. (Read: Alert Level 4? Here’s What You Should Know About IATF’s New COVID-19 Alert Level Systems)

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a monastery or convent had seen an “outbreak” of COVID-19 cases in their communities.

Convent outbreaks

The all-girls Stella Maris College and Convent can be found hidden behind the high walls of a compound the lies between Cambridge, Columbia and Oxford streets in the Cubao residential district, near Aurora Boulevard. (Photo from Lakbay ng Lakan blog)

Just recently, news broke that 13 nuns have been infected with the novel coronavirus, reportedly from the Stella Maris Convent in Cubao, Quezon City. They are now the third convent in Quezon City to have a COVID-19 outbreaks.

The first two were the Religious of Virgin Mary Convent and the Convent of the Holy Spirit. The Religious of Virgin Mary Convent had 114 positive cases among its nuns and staff. Of the 114, 22 are asymptomatic, 86 are mild, four are moderate, and two are severe. (Read: 5 Reasons Why St. Clare Should Be One of Your Favorite Saints!)

Meanwhile, the latter reported at least 22 positive cases, 13 of which were nuns and nine were staff. According to the Quezon City government, there are 90 residents in the convent. Of the positive individuals, 14 are fully vaccinated, while others have not yet been inoculated. Majority of the infected nuns at the Convent of the Holy Spirit are said to be between the ages of 80 and 101.

The nuns and staff are now being closely monitored by doctors and taken care of by caregivers.

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