Southbridge pastor experiences coronavirus

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press
St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge is temporarily shut down because the pastor, Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, has the coronavirus and the staff and food pantry workers, who were exposed to him, are also quarantined.
The associate pastor, Father Wilmar J. Ramos, quarantined in a different part of the rectory, had to celebrate Holy Week liturgies by himself, and is celebrating daily Masses, which can be viewed online, Father Cardinale said.
He said he felt fairly good and hoped to be back to ministry in days, if virus symptoms did not reappear. But on Wednesday he still had a slight fever.
Staff members did not have symptoms and the maintenance crew cleaned and sterilized the ministry center after he got sick, he said.     
“I tested positive for the coronavirus ... Holy Thursday,” he said in an audio message to parishioners on the parish website, posted several days ago.
What was it like as a pastor being unable to celebrate Holy Week services?
“It’s one thing when you’re celebrating Mass and getting to receive the Eucharist every day,” and telling people you understand how they feel not being able to do so, Father Cardinale said. “And then all of a sudden to be in that place – it’s an incarnational situation where you’re able to identify with your people.”
Asked whether he could celebrate private Masses he said, “What I’m trying to do (is to) be in solidarity with my people,” watching Father Ramos’ Masses online. He figured that was smarter than trying to celebrate his own Mass when he is sick. But that means he doesn’t receive the Eucharist.
“Just because I’m a priest doesn’t mean I’m entitled to the Eucharist any more than my people,” he said.
“I miss you,” he told his people in his website messages. “I love you.” He expressed appreciation for their love, prayers, financial support for the parish and for Father Ramos taking on the Masses. He also talked about his experiences, and offered spiritual encouragement and prayers.
“Our homes are houses of prayer … where Jesus lives,” he said in one website message. “Let us continue to be united in prayer.”
He also talked about being bored in quarantine and expressed eagerness to emerge from “prison.”
In website messages and talking with The Catholic Free Press, Father Cardinale told his story.
On April 6 he felt fine.
On April 7 he had a headache and a temperature of 99 degrees. He thought he had allergies, but consulted his doctor, who gave him the needed referral for a test.
On April 8 he rested, and had chills.
On April 9, Holy Thursday, his fever was gone. He kept his appointment at an outdoor theater in Lowell where a CVS Minute Clinic is helping provide tests. There he was asked questions and had to swab the inside of each of his nostrils. The swab was tested and within 15 minutes he received a call on his cell phone saying he had tested positive.
Other symptoms he associated with the virus was what seemed like a stomach bug, aching joints, and a reduction in his appetite and in his ability to taste.
Since his symptoms started April 7, anyone who was in close contact with him for several minutes on April 4 or after must self quarantine for 14 days, he said.
Tuesday it was seven days since he first showed symptoms, but he cannot come out of quarantine until he has been free of a fever (without taking fever-reducing medicine) for 72 hours, he said. He thought he was going to make it; then the fever returned on April 14.
“It’s a different world right now,” Father Cardinale said in Tuesday’s website message. “It’s still a world in which Jesus loves us. … He gives us hope and healing … the strength and grace to persevere.