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WHEELING -- The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, offered a special blessing outside the entrance of Wheeling Hospital on Thursday afternoon for the employees of the facility and all healthcare workers.
While maintaining safe social distancing during the short prayer service, nearly two dozen healthcare workers stood in attendance wearing masks.Brennan joins the faithful throughout West Virginia in gratitude for the services for all healthcare workers.
Brennan led the service and blessing, asking God to surround area healthcare workers as they care for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the service, Brennan said he felt it was important to call on God's blessings for all healthcare workers.
"They are always here to serve us, but I think during this time of the pandemic of the coronavirus, we realize how important their service is," he explained.
Wheeling Hospital CEO Douglass Harrison said the bishop's prayer service was a wonderful event.
"This is what Wheeling Hospital is about," Harrison said. "We are a Catholic facility and having the bishop out today is wonderful. It shows the support of the diocese. It shows the compassion for the frontline crew that are working each and every day to fight this (crisis)."
Wheeling Hospital Lab Director Beth Jochum said she thought it was a "wonderful" service.
"I think as a Catholic organization and the work that we're doing here -- bringing us all together and saying a prayer for us, as well as our patients and everyone else involved in this global pandemic -- I think it was a true testament to the work that we do here," Jochum said.
In addition to the Thursday service, Brennan plans to offer prayers and a special blessing this afternoon outside the Elm Grove Reisbeck's Food Market for essential staff who work tirelessly to keep food and other items available to all.