The Maryknoll Society Center in Ossining, N.Y., is seen in this 2014 file photo. The Maryknoll religious community has been hit hard by COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, with at least one priest and three women religious reported to have died of the illness during the month of April. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
The religious community in Ossining is the residence of retired Hawaii missioners
By Dennis Sadowski
Catholic News Service
CLEVELAND — The Maryknoll religious community in Ossining, New York, has been hit hard by COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
At least one priest and three women religious have died of the illness during the month of April.
Maryknoll Sister Frances Calcaterra
One of the sisters who passed away was Maryknoll Sister Frances (Fran) Calcaterra, 89, who had served in Hawaii in the 1960s-80s and had been living at the Maryknoll Sisters’ motherhouse since 2016.
A Maryknoller since 1951, Sister Calcaterra taught theology and was a guidance counselor and director at Maryknoll High School in Honolulu from 1966-1979. She also earned her master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of Hawaii-Manoa in 1973. From 1979-1982 she worked in a Waimanalo program focused on traditional Hawaiian culture and values before being assigned back to the mainland.
Sister Calcaterra died on April 13.
“Three of our Sisters died from it even though there were very strict regulations,” said Maryknoll Sister Bitrina Kirway, the Maryknoll Hawaii regional coordinator, in an email.
The Maryknoll Sisters announced the three deaths in an April 20 news release. Another 24 sisters have tested positive for the coronavirus and were temporarily transferred to another care facility for treatment.
Other sisters who have low-grade fevers have been isolated in the order’s health care facility and are being closely monitored by medical staff, the congregation said.
In addition, eight of the congregation’s staff members also have tested positive for the illness.
However, Sister Kirway said close to a dozen sisters have recovered and been able to return to the motherhouse since then.
“We are very grateful for the prayers,” she said. “We continue to keep all those who are sick in our prayers as well.”
Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers
Father Raymond Finch, superior general of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, told Catholic News Service that nine priests living at the order’s residential facilities had died since April 2.
He said the first priest who died was 92 and was the only one of the nine who tested positive for the virus. The others who had died showed symptoms that indicated they had the illness, but not all of them had been tested and those that were had not received their results, the congregational leader said.
Father Finch said the ages of the men who died ranged from the upper 80s to the lower 90s and had been ordained for more than 50 years. In all, 120 men live at the order’s residential facility, he said.
About 18 men, in their 60s and 70s, also have shown minor symptoms of the disease and have been isolated, Father Finch added.
“All you need is a sniffle and you’re treated. But the younger men are isolated and doing OK,” he told CNS April 21.
Father Finch credited the order’s health care staff for being on top of the situation in trying times.
“They’re very aware of keeping people separated, very aware of not being cross contagious.
They’re doing a very wonderful job, but the reality is this thing spreads very quickly,” he said.
Anna Weaver contributed to this story.
