The Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory M. Aymond, has tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
"Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, I have been feeling fine. Recently, I had very mild symptoms, which included fever only. Out of an abundance of caution, I took the coronavirus test which came back positive," the archbishop said in a statement.
"I have notified those with whom I have been in close proximity. Needless to say, I have self-quarantined in order to be responsible and not affect others," he said.
Archbishop Aymond said he will use "this quiet time for additional prayer and sacrifice for all those seriously affected by the virus."
"I pray to get well soon and continue ministry. In the meantime, I will be present through Facebook and the archdiocesan website with reflection on this crisis and God’s healing power," said Archbishop Aymond, who has headed the archdiocese since 2009.
He ended his statement with: "Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us! Blessed Francis Seelos, pray for us!"
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a Redemptorist priest from Germany, worked as a missionary in the United States frontier. Toward the end of his life, he went to New Orleans to minister to victims of yellow fever. He then died after contracting the disease.
Due to the coronavirus, all archdiocesan offices will be closed for 10 days, from March 17-27. This is to be reevaluated after 10 days. This includes the office of the Clarion Herald, the archdiocesan newspaper.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Catholic dioceses are already feeling the pinch as one byproduct of canceled Masses is no offertory collection. And a byproduct of no offertory collection is puncture wounds in the budgets of parishes, dioceses and national collections.
"It's a big hit, and it's gonna hurt," said Patrick Markey, executive director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, based in Phoenix.
Rare is the US diocese that has not canceled public Masses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Some announced a two-week cancellation in hopes of resuming them for Passion Sunday. Others, following the Vatican's lead, have opted to call off any public celebrations through Easter. Still others are in an "until further notice" holding pattern.
How long a parish can go without receiving revenue from parishioners is a still-unanswered question. Dioceses that assess parishes a percentage of offertory income also would feel the pinch, so help from them for financially hurting parishes is limited, according to Markey.
"Rather than the chancery giving them money, the chancery needs the money from the parishes to allow it to operate," he said.
Another factor is national collections, with one slated for the weekend of March 21-22 in most US parishes. The Catholic Relief Services collection helps more than CRS, the U.S. bishops' overseas relief and development agency. It also provides funding for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Offices of International Justice and Peace, Migration and Refugee Services, and Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, the Vatican's own relief work and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.
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