Thirteen nuns in a Michigan convent fell victim to COVID-19, marking a devastating loss for the Felician Sisters. Aging between sixty-nine and ninety-nine, the nuns, including teachers, an author, and a Vatican secretary, succumbed to the virus within a month. Described as a tight-knit community, they lived, prayed, and worked closely. This tragedy, labeled by the Global Sisters Report as the most significant loss to a women’s religious community since 1918, underscores the virus’s severity.

The virus infiltrated the convent through unwitting aides, rapidly spreading. For a month, a nun succumbed every other day. COVID-19 claimed thirteen lives and infected eighteen others, complicating the mourning process due to health guidelines preventing attendance at funerals. The peak occurred between April 10 and May 10, with an additional death on June 27.

Noel Marie Gabriel, director of clinical health services, highlighted the emotional toll, stating, “That month was like a whole different way of life. It was a month of tragedy and sorrow and mourning and grieving.” The overall toll on nuns worldwide remains uncertain due to inadequate tracking by religious authorities. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the virus’s impact on vulnerable communities.