Sky pilots: The New Orleans archbishop has taken to the air in a WWII-era biplane to sprinkle Jordan River holy water in a social-distancing Easter benediction. A rabbi went up in the same plane later to offer Passover blessings.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond, ride, rides in a World War II era Stearman PT-17 biplane over the city of New Orleans, Friday, April 10, 2020. He took with him holy water from the Jordan River, where Christ was baptized, to sprinkle over the city, and the Eucharist, to bless those sick or deceased from the new coronavirus, as well as the front line responders.
The open-air plane carried Archbishop Gregory Aymond, 70, from the Lakefront Airport to Kenner, to Gretna, to the French Quarter over 25 minutes,Aymond prayed for protection and healing and sprinkled holy water that came from the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized.Aymond recently recovered from the virus himself and said he asked God to offer grace in particular to health care workers, first responders and city leaders.
More than 20,000 people in Louisiana have confirmed infections of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus, about 10% of whom are hospitalized, according to health department data. The number of virus deaths climbed to at least 806, with 51 new deaths added to the toll Saturday.
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