After graduating as a doctor, he had been ordained a priest. Now, in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the parish priest of Correggio wants to go back to help those who are ill and suffering in hospitals. “Pray for me!”
Next Wednesday, Fr Alberto Debbi will join the ranks with other doctors for the coming month in the hospital at Sassuolo, to work as an emergency doctor within the pneumology department, at the CoVid-19 Centre in Modena. He has temporaliry hung up his cassock and put on his doctor’s coat, to help the people who have been infected with the virus.
The 44-year old priest, originally from Reggio, had studied medicine and graduated from the Policlinico the Modena in 2001, specialising in respiratory diseases. After he received his warrant, he worked at a hospital in Scandiano, and after that in the Emergency Department at Castelnovo Monti. Finally, he also worked for seven years at the Pneumology Department in Sassuolo (Modena), where he will return on Wednesday to assist during this national emergency.
He became a priest in 2018, and he was nominated as a vicar within the Parish of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie in Correggio. He shared his news with his parishioners through Facebook, asking them to pray for him as he leaves his parish for a few weeks in order to dedicate his service to the patients who are suffering because of the virus. He spoke about the sacrifice of making himself available to the community in the time of such dire need.
“This part of me was still alive, and now more than ever I feel the need to reach out. I thank the Bishop and Fr Sergio who have allowed me the possibility to do this. Even if I am not physically present, I will still be available on different channels … I will continue to pray and celebrate mass for all of you. Now, as a friend of mine said, I will serve God from the bedsides of sick people. Be safe and don’t lose hope!” said Fr Alberto.
