Local News

Priests trained to safely give ‘last rites’ to COVID-19 patients

By Tim Puet
Catholic Times Reporter
 
About 50 priests of the Diocese of Columbus have been trained to safely provide end-of-life sacramental care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Father Michael Lumpe, diocesan vicar for priests and vice rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum’s College of Liberal Arts, said the training took place in late March during four sessions.  Each session involved a different group of priests from throughout the 23-county diocese, including those from religious orders and congregations and priests at the Josephinum.

Before each session, participants were asked to watch a YouTube training video on how to properly put on and take offthe personal protective equipment (PPE) doctors and nurses wear to minimize exposure when dealing with hazardous situations such as the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Priests then gathered electronically through the Zoom conference call system for an overview and question-and-answer session with Dr. Marian Schuda, medical director of patient services for the OhioHealth system and secretary of the local guild of the Catholic Medical Association; Father Dean Mathewson, coordinator of diocesan hospital ministries; and Father Lumpe.

“Weeks ago, when it was first reported that the coronavirus eventually would spread to Ohio, Bishop Brennan gathered his senior staff and others to begin planning for handling the coronavirus in our diocese,” Father Lumpe said. “This included a myriad of issues, including how priests could safely provide for what the state of Ohio terms as end-of-life care – what many in the Catholic Church describe as the ‘last rites’ – while accomplishing our sacramental duty as priests in a safe manner.”

“Recognizing that COVID-19 has its own set of issues, we sought the counsel of Dr. Schuda and put together a PPE training program for priests to protect their health and safety while they administer the last sacraments to COVID-19 patients,” Father Lumpe said. “We were ordained to administer the sacraments, no matter how hazardous the situation may be. Salvation of souls is what we priests are all about.”

Father Lumpe said that when a priest administers the last rites, it encompasses several sacraments, including Penance (confession and absolution of sins), the Apostolic Pardon (remission of temporal punishment due to sin given to a dying person who is in the state of grace), Viaticum (Holy Communion given as food for the journey to eternal life) and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick with holy oil.

Father Lumpe explained that the last rites sacramentally prepare those who are dying, and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick sacramentally brings about physical and spiritual healing.

When a person is in danger of death the concluding prayer asks God to “have mercy on your servant who has now entered the struggle of his/her final agony. May this holy anointing and our prayer of faith aid him/her in body and soul. Forgive all his/her sins and protect him/her with your loving care. We ask this, Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, because he has won the victory over death, opened the way to eternal life, and now lives and reigns with you forever and ever.”

In situations involving COVID-19 – along with other hazardous situations such as those related to MRSA or C. diff infections – the holy oil used for anointing is applied through use of a cotton swab or a cotton ball by a priest wearing PPE.

Father Lumpe said the diocese’s COVID-19 training was a natural response to a priest’s daily mission.

“Priests are in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and private homes every day,” he said. “Like doctors and nurses, priests, too, are exposed to hazardous situations in hospital settings. It’s part of our daily ministry to the sick and the dying.”

He said many more priests, in addition to those who were trained, stepped forward for this COVID-19 PPE instruction but were not eligible because of age or health issues. Those ineligible include all priests age 69 or older and those with health issues such as immune deficiencies; heart, kidney or lung problems; or diabetes. 

“Some priests already have gone into hospitals in our diocese to administer end-of-life sacramental care related to COVID-19 patients,” Father Lumpe said. “We don’t know where or when a COVID-19 outbreak may occur, but we are fortunate to have an army of priests trained, ready and willing to go wherever needed throughout our diocese to administer end-of-life sacramental care to COVID-19 coronavirus patients.”