8 RVM nuns die of COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Eight nuns belonging to the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, more popularly known as the RVM Sisters, have died of COVID-19, an official of the congregation reported yesterday.

The eight were among the 62 nuns who tested positive for COVID-19 in the group’s convent in Quezon City.

“The personnel are still young so they are on the road to recovery. Some sisters are moving from symptomatic to asymptomatic. Eight of the sisters, aged 90s and 80s, afflicted with COVID-19 returned home to our heavenly Father,” RVM spokesperson Sister Ma. Anica Co said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas.

Co said the eight nuns who died were not inoculated against COVID as they had been bedridden due to other ailments. She said there was some effort to have them vaccinated, “but it did not come soon (enough).”

She asked the Catholic faithful to continue praying for the immediate recovery of the nuns who contracted the virus so that they will be able to continue serving the community.

Co thanked those who have extended their support to the affected nuns.

In another development, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said he is now “on the road to recovery” a few days after he confirmed reports that he tested positive for COVID-19.

“On the road to recovery na, no fever for the last three days, oxygen level remains high at 98,” Advincula said in an interview over Radyo Veritas.

Advincula thanked the Catholic faithful and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for their prayers for his immediate recovery as he vowed to also pray for everyone’s safety amid the pandemic.

The Manila archdiocese said that Advincula had no other symptoms aside from a slight fever. He was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before he was installed as Manila archbishop in June.