It was with great distress that we learned that dear Canon Francis Xavier Altiere has been hospitalised in the United States since Sunday as a result of Coronavirus. We understand from our American confrères that Canon is now stable but receiving supplemental oxygen, but not using a ventilator.
Canon served at Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena, New Brighton for 12 months as a deacon before being ordained by His Eminence, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke at St Francis de Sales Oratory, Saint Louis, Missouri on the 5th August 2014. He was then assigned as the first Rector of St Walburge, Preston before being reassigned to the United States.
We have now learned that Canon Joel Estrada, Pastor and Rector of St. Patrick’s in Waterbury, Connecticut, has also been diagnosed with the Coronavirus and was hospitalised on Wednesday. He is responding well to therapy.
Of your charity, please pray for their speedy recovery.
Sancta Maria ad nives, ora pro nobis
[Photo: Canon Altiere as deacon of the Mass on the occasion of the Latin Mass Society pilgrimage to Holywell, July 2016]
Meanwhile, prayer and the God given skills of the medical staff treating Canon Henrique Fragelli are bearing great fruit as he continues to take steps toward recovery. Treatment has been every effective. He can now sit up, communicate normally and resume a normal diet. Further rehabilitive treatment will commence in January. Once again, we thank you for your prayers, which we request continue. Canon is in a far better place now than he was only a short time ago.