ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a pastoral effort to ensure the safety of all concerned in the uncertainty of the Ebola outbreak, the Rochester Diocese has asked African priests who minister in the diocese to delay any plans to take vacation in their home dioceses.
A memo was sent to the priests Oct. 29 from Father Edward Palumbos, director of priest personnel, expressing deep admiration for the work of the priests. In his memo, Father Palumbos said the travel restrictions were being made “purely from a pastoral concern for the people of God and for you.”
Rochester Bishop Salvatore R. Matano asked that all Catholics continue to pray for the victims of Ebola and for the tireless and courageous health workers who are fighting to stop the outbreak.
“First of all, it is important to note that the travel addressed by the memo is nonessential vacation or personal travel,” explained Doug Mandelaro, director of communications. “The dozen African priests who serve here go home, not all, but some, to their native countries on occasion to visit family and take care of personal needs, usually after the Christmas holidays.
“These are not priests who we would be sending to do missionary work,” he said. “They are priests who work and minister here full time and who originate from their dioceses in Africa.”
The memo was intended specifically to inform the priests they will not be permitted to travel to West Africa, specifically citing Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Nigeria, as well as connecting flights through those countries.
“It also asked priests to delay for the time being any travel plans to other countries in Africa until an announcement that this restriction is lifted,” Mandelaro told the Catholic Courier, Rochester’s diocesan newspaper. “Our reason for asking for a delay in travel to other countries in Africa is based on a concern that, should the situation change, these men might be subject to government travel or medical restrictions or circumstances beyond their control that might prevent their return for an extended period of time.”
“Obviously,” he added, “if there is an emergency or an overwhelming need for one of these priests to travel to an area, we would look carefully at all the circumstances, the precise situation at the time and make our best judgment based on those factors and any official advice from government sources and the like.
“We have received no negative feedback from the priests affected. In fact, priests expressed appreciation of our concern for their well-being and the good of their parishioners.”
Mandelaro added, “The diocese implemented this policy out of an abundance of caution and a sincere desire to protect: The diocese is trying to respond proactively to an uncertain and changing situation and feels this is the safest approach at this time.”
He said diocesan officials “thought it was the best course to take now for the dozen priests this affects because there is a chance they could get caught up in a situation beyond that might prevent their return and seriously affect the parishes they serve with dedication and the appreciation of their people.”
In addition, he said, “diocesan guidance in this matter at this point in time, before plans were made and tickets were purchased, would perhaps help them avoid any expensive costs associated with the necessity to cancel plans in the future should the Ebola situation widen.”
