DEATH NOTICE OF FOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD SISTERS DUE TO COVID-19

Over the weekend we received the sad news of the passing away of four Precious Blood Sisters of the Mthatha Province, who died as a result of COVID-19 related diseases.

One of the sisters was buried on Monday, 15th June 2020 and arrangements are underway for the burial of the three other sisters on Saturday, 20th June 2020. 

We would like to express our solidarity with the congregation and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences as the LCCL. Let us continue praying for them and for the Diocese of Mthata. 

With the increase in the numbers of cases of people infected by COVID-19, these are the first confirmed cases in our religious communities in Southern Africa.

Let us continue praying for one another and for each other’s safety during this period of uncertainty.

United in Prayer,
Sr Nkhensani Shibambu CSA
LCCL President

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Full Statement

To All Conference Members:

Re. Death of Precious Blood Sisters

It is a sad day for the church in South Africa generally and for the religious fraternity in particular to be mourning the passing away of four sisters of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in Mthatha as a result of COVID-19. These are the first confirmed deaths in our religious communities in Southern Africa, and they serve as a reminder to all of us of the vulnerability of religious communities to COVID-19. They also remind us that behind every statistic that is given there is a name which belongs to a friend, a relative, a colleague and in this instance, to a member of a religious community or congregation.

We would like to express our solidarity with the congregation and extend our heartfelt condolences to all the Precious Blood sisters, families and friends of the deceased sisters as well as the Diocese of Mthatha. With the scarcity of religious vocations in the country and in the church, this is a grievous blow, for the death of one religious is a death too many. And now having to deal with the loss of four sisters at a go is unfathomable. The loss experienced by the Precious Blood sisters is therefore our loss too. We thank the sisters for their generous contribution to religious life in South Africa and for their selfless ministering to the communities they served throughout their lives. Let us pray that the Lord may grant them eternal rest and that He will be merciful and give comfort, consolation and peace to the remaining sisters and protect them from any further harm.

With the upsurge in the number of COVID-19 infections as we enter the peak phase, let us remain vigilant in our communities, keep ourselves and each other safe especially the most vulnerable members of our communities, follow all safety measures and continue praying for an end to this deadly scourge that is gripping our country by the throat.

Sr Nkhensani Shibambu CSA
LCCL President
16/06/2020