Local Catholic pastor in ICU with coronavirus, church says. 4 others cleared for masses
The pastor of one Catholic church in Columbus is in intensive care with COVID-19 as four friars at another church have ended their quarantine after falling ill with the virus.
In a July 24 e-newsletter to St. Anne Catholic Church parishioners, Pastor Robert Schlageter wrote that Father Noel Danielewicz of St. Benedict the Moor Parish on 9th Street had been admitted to St. Francis Hospital with “COVID pneumonia.”
Danielewicz tested negative for the virus several times, according to Schlageter, and masses at St. Benedict the Moor were canceled until further notice.
In Schlageter’s July 31 newsletter, which he wrote July 28, he informed parishioners that Danielewicz was making slow progress in fighting his illness.
“His oxygen levels are a concern as he fights COVID-19 pneumonia,” he wrote. “Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Danielewicz is in an intensive care unit on a ventilator, Jennifer Sillitto, director of communication for St. Anne, said Friday.
Sillitto also confirmed that four friars at St. Anne had completed their quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 in mid-July. Schlageter, along with Friars Paul Pantiru and Emanuel Vasconcelos tested positive, as did a fourth who was not identified.
That friar serves a different Columbus church, but lives on the St. Anne property, Schlageter told the Ledger-enquirer on July 16.
“All the three friars that had COVID from our parish were cleared by their doctor to return to ministry,” Sillitto said Friday. “Father Robert says they’re all feeling great, they’re back at work.”
“As I have said several times, we followed a stricter quarantine for our peace of mind and for yours,” Schlageter’s July 31 statement said. “We would never want to get anyone sick because we didn’t go the extra mile. We are happy and grateful to be back in church, celebrating Mass and praying with people. I can’t thank the parish enough for all of the love, support, great food and, especially, all of the prayers and best wishes that have been sent our way. It has all been very touching!”
Weekday masses at St. Anne, which were canceled after the positive test results, resumed as of Wednesday morning, and confessions will resume this weekend.