Missionaries risk lives in fight against Ebola

October 02, 2014

Catholic priests and missionaries in western Africa are risking their lives in the battle against the Ebola epidemic, a papal representative reported in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Archbishop Miroslaw Adamczyk, the apostolic nuncio for Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, told ACN that in Liberia alone, there have been over 2,000 cases of Ebola diagnosed in the past 6 months, and over 1,000 of the victims have died. He observed that “the Ebola virus disease doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.”

The archbishop paid tribute to the priests and religious who have cared for Ebola patients at St. Joseph’s hospital in Monrovia. Four have died of the disease, while two others were infected by recovered. “These good missionaries paid the highest price for their service to the Church and the people of Liberia,” he said.

Since August, the Church faithful in Liberia have been told not to shake hands during Mass at the Sign of Peace, in order to minimize the risk of contagion, the papal nuncio said. Basins of water mixed with chlorine have been placed at the entrances of every church to allow people to sterilize their hands.

 

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Further information:

• Missionaries pay ultimate price in confronting Ebola in Liberia (ACN)