COVID-19 impacting leaders in religious communities

The coronavirus is taking a devastating toll on leaders in several religious communities.

News 12 Staff

May 20, 2020, 9:24 PM

Updated 1,609 days ago

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The coronavirus is taking a devastating toll on leaders in several religious communities. 
Councilman Fernando Cabrera is a pastor at New Life Church on Morris Avenue. He says COVID-19 took a devastating toll on his congregation during the peak of the outbreak. 
“We had a good 20% of our church down, which is reflective of what we're seeing here in the Bronx,” said Cabrera. 
The impact is taking a hold on spiritual leaders who Cabrera says answered their call to minister prayer to the faithful during their time of need. 
“The pastors are 55 and above and that's another reason why you're seeing the pastors and rabbis pass away because of this,” said Cabrera. 
Pastor Sal Sabeno says two spiritual leaders at his church have recovered from the coronavirus, but that a third pastor has been fighting for his life in intensive care for more than 50 days. 
“I believe God is going to heal him, he is getting better, he's slowly recovering and he'll be out,” said Sabeno. 
Sabeno says his congregation will continue to keep the faith during these trying times.
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