‘We are OK.’ Four Columbus friars test positive for coronavirus, cancel some masses

Four friars associated with St. Anne Catholic Church in Columbus have tested positive for COVID-19, according to church officials.

St. Anne Pastor Robert Schlageter said in a statement Tuesday that he was tested for the novel coronavirus after he and Fr. Paul Pantiru were not feeling well.

Following Schlageter’s positive test, the parish’s COVID response team recommended all the friars be tested. Pantiru and Fr. Emanuel Vasconcelos received positive results.

“We feel like we have the flu, with on and off fevers and aches and pains,” Schlageter said in a statement to the Ledger-Enquirer Wednesday. “We are OK and under the care of great doctors.”

Another friar also tested positive, but Schlageter did not name him in the post. The friar serves a different Columbus church but lives on the St. Anne property.

Jennifer Sillitto, St. Anne’s director of communications, said Schlageter and the others were tested and received their results Tuesday.

“This all stands to reason. We are in the hospital several times a week, we anoint sick people, we pray with their families. We have taken appropriate precautions and do our best to keep ourselves and others safe, but no effort is foolproof. We could have gotten this sickness anywhere and how we got it doesn’t really matter. We have no regrets,” Schlageter said in a statement published on St. Anne’s website Tuesday.

Weekday masses and confessions are canceled until further notice. Communion will still be available in the parking lot for worshippers who wish to watch live-streamed masses from their cars.

Masses will be held at St. Anne on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The 12:30 p.m. Sunday mass is canceled. Fr. Pablo Migone of Savannah will handle St. Anne’s masses this weekend.

The church began in-person weekend masses at the end of May. Social distancing is enforced, and everyone is asked to wear a mask, Sillitto said.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 7:00 AM.

Nick Wooten

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Nick Wooten is the Accountability/Investigative reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer where he is responsible for covering several topics, including Georgia politics. His work may also appear in the Macon Telegraph. Nick was given the Georgia Press Association’s 2021 Emerging Journalist award for his coverage of elections, COVID-19 and Columbus’ LGBTQ+ community. Before joining McClatchy, he worked for The (Shreveport La.) Times covering city government and investigations. He is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.