Lucban, Quezon (Wikipedia maps)
LUCENA CITY—Healing priest Fr. Joey Faller based in Lucban town in Quezon province has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Faller announced this himself in a video message on his Facebook page Wednesday at 5:50 p.m.
“I am positive for COVID. This is my day one. Nalaman ko kanina na COVID positive ako sa swab. Kahapon ay positive ako sa antigen (I learned just today that my swab test came back positive for COVID. I was also positive in the antigen test yesterday),” Faller, 57, said on his daily “altanghap” period which was being beamed live on his own social media page.
He said he will submit himself to 15 days quarantine period.
He recalled that he had already lost his sense of smell and taste on June 1.
“I can feel that something is wrong with my body,” the priest said.
On the separate Facebook page of “Kamay ni Hesus Grotto”, it announced that the “Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church” (KNHHC) in Lucban will be close to the public from June 3 to 10.
“In compliance with existing health protocols, the KNHHC shall conduct cleaning and disinfection measures within the premises during the said period,” the post read.
Faller, who is believed to possess a gift from God to cure the sick, is the administrator of the five-hectare Kamay ni Hesus shrine which is under the supervision of the Diocese of Lucena.
According to Faller, he could have possibly contracted the virus on May 27 during one of the Masses that he co-celebrated with a visiting bishop.
“So, when the wine was being given (during the Mass), I drank his (bishop) leftover wine without thinking that he could be COVID positive. Sadly, the visiting bishop was COVID positive,” he explained.
He did not identify the said bishop.
Faller said he felt the symptoms – cold, cough, fever, body aches – associated with the virus on May 30.
“I believe God is here to protect me. God is here to heal me. God is here to bless us all. He can transform our COVID-19 experience into healing,” he added.
In an online interview, Faller said he already had his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. His second dose is scheduled for June 14.
“What I have now is mild COVID,” he said.
Faller took the video himself inside his room at the KNS shrine.