COVID-19 Surge, Deaths in Religious Communities Cause for Alarm: Nuns in South Africa

“Sisters Elmara Skhakhane FSF and Leonissa Nzimande have already been buried. Sisters Colleta Msomi FSF, Anastasia Mthetwa FSF, and Amara Madlala FSF were buried Saturday 19th December in Port Shepstone,” the leadership of the Sisters’ Conference say, adding, “Fifteen other sisters are said to be critically ill.”

The death of the Sisters is “a deep wound to the Church, the Congregation and the Conference at large,” LCCLSA leadership bemoans.

“This is a very painful reminder that the scourge of COVID-19 is yet to lessen its devastation to communities and society at large,” the Sisters say in their December 18 statement shared with ACI Africa.

They express their solidarity with members of the affected Religious Orders and urge caution and vigilance.

“We send not only consolatory messages to the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Francis but also urge all religious congregations and communities to be extra vigilant and cautious in light of the deadly and subtle Second Wave of the pandemic,” LCCLSA leaders say.

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“None of us is immune to this pandemic,” the Sisters say, and continue, “In the absence of a vaccine, we remain our own best defense against the virus and the least we can do is to continue adhering to the safety protocols of COVID-19 prevention and containment especially as most people and communities gather for the celebration of the festive season and beyond.”  

They further say, “Our prayers go to the Daughters of Saint Francis and all religious congregations and personnel infected and affected by this scourge.”

“May the souls of the Sisters, the Religious, and all the faithful who have lost the battle to COVID-19, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace,” LCCLSA leadership implores in the December 18 statement shared with ACI Africa.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.