Archbishop Aymond continued his Good Friday journey after the 3 p.m. liturgy at St. Louis Cathedral by driving to the emergency medical facilities set up at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center to care for individuals who have the coronavirus or who are being evaluated to see if they have it.
The archbishop thanked Norris Yarbrough, Louisiana Incident Commander for the Medical Monitoring Station (MMS) and Personal Housing Unit (PHU), and members of the Army Guard who are caring for virus patients.
Deacon Jeff Tully, hospital chaplaincy coordinator of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, read a passage from the Gospel of St. Mark in which the sick from all over the countryside were being brought to Jesus "on mats to wherever they heard he was." And, "as many touched" the tassel of his cloak, "they were healed."
Before blessing the temporary medical facilities, Archbishop Aymond prayed: "Lord we ask you to bless all patients who will be cared for here. May all those who care for them tend to them with skill and care so that those who come here sick will leave restored in spirit and body and forever praising your mercy."