Macdonald said he and his fellow priests are constantly "sharing notes" on their experiences at the hospitals, since each institution has slightly different protocols and equipment.
"It's very hard being a priest and not being able to celebrate the sacraments for the people, so this opportunity is a great relief in a sense- to do what we were ordained to do," he said.
"We teach the men at St. John's [Seminary] that priests run into the burning building, not away from it."
Father Michael Zimmerman, assistant vocation director for the seminary and another priest volunteer, told CNA that he hopes the word will spread throughout Boston about the availability of anointing for coronavirus patients.
Father Zimmerman started on the team last weekend, covering the Cambridge, Everett, and Mount Auburn hospitals in Boston. So far he has responded to one anointing call, and his fellow priest in the house where they are now living has responded to two.
"Once we're there, the nurses and the medical staff are very appreciative to have us there," he said.
He said he and his fellow priest- a religious- have developed a routine of prayer in their house, as well as eating meals together and celebrating Mass.
Father Zimmerman asked for prayers for the patients and the priests and medical staff ministering to them.
"We can't save everyone- medicine can only do so much. To some degree we have to recognize that we're not the masters of our own fate, and we have to put it in God's hands," he said.
"The medical staff is doing great work, but we also have to recognize that they can't do everything, and that hopefully takes some pressure off of them, recognizing that this is in God's hands."
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.
