On February 24 and 25, a group of priests provided spiritual care to the patients in the COVID area, intermediate care, intensive care, and medical staff of the “El Salvador” hospital in San Salvador.
The group was composed of diocesan priests Carlos Chavarría, Nelson Díaz, Otoniel Leiva, and Abel Martínez, accompanied by Father Dennis Doren, LC, who carries out pastoral work in Central America.
On February 24, the activities consisted of administering the sacrament of reconciliation to all the patients who profess the Catholic faith and wished to receive the sacrament, also because the patients needed someone to listen to them and provide spiritual support. They also prayed with them and conversed with people of other religions. Subsequently, they also administered the anointing of the sick, as the purpose of the visit was to attend to all people without distinction.
On February 25, the priests returned to the hospital to give communion to 80 patients who had confessed the day before and to also attend to patients in intermediate and intensive care levels. Throughout both days, more than 220 people hospitalized in the hospital were attended to, some with confession and communion, others with dialogue, spiritual support, and prayer.
“This is a blessing and grace for them, and they are very grateful because, in the circumstances they are in, they need a lot of spiritual accompaniment. We also thank the hospital management for their great willingness, who, as in previous occasions, opened the door for us and gave us the green light to work pastorally within the hospital,” Father Dennis mentioned at the end of this visit.
Let us continue to entrust in our prayers the end of the pandemic and that God blesses all the efforts made by priests around the world, spiritually attending to COVID cases.
