‘Please pray’: Columbus priest hospitalized with coronavirus

A Columbus Catholic priest is currently fighting the coronavirus, according to a Facebook post from a Savannah Archbishop.

Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer wrote in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon that Father Dan O’Connell, pastor of Church of the Holy Family in downtown Columbus, had been moved to the ICU after testing positive for COVID-19.

“Please pray for Father Dan O’Connell, one of our Savannah priests who tested positive for COVID-19,” Hartmayer said in the post.

The church’s Facebook page shared Hartmayer’s post around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, also asking for prayers for O’Connell.

Since Thursday, the post has received over 1,000 reactions, 600 shares and 600 comments of well wishes and prayers for his recovery.