Vigil for nurse Estrella at St John’s Cathedral

An all-night prayer vigil and Mass took place at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich last night for city nurse, mother and Cathedral steward Estrella Catalan, who died on February 5 at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital where she worked, after a month-long battle against Covid-19. Keith Morris reports.

Estrella’s funeral requiem Mass will take place on Friday (March 5) at noon and is for family and close friends only with a 30-person limit in place. Bishop Alan Hopes will celebrate the Mass and the homily will be given by Cathedral Dean, Canon David Paul.

Afterwards the funeral procession will visit the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, where colleagues will pay a final tribute, before a committal at Earlham Crematorium.

Family and friends staged a prayer vigil overnight and were joined via live stream by family, including Estrella’s mother, from the Philippines, where the family is originally from.

Daniel Justin, director of music at St John’s, told the EDP: “During the last week of Estrella’s life, one of our priests was going to the hospital to sit with her family and pray right until the end. A lot of the nursing community was praying with the priests who were not allowed into the Covid ward. 

“Estrella was one of the cathedral stewards who was always offering help to others and welcoming people to the services. She  used to welcome people with a smile and was a really important part of the cathedral community who will be missed very much.” 

You can follow Estrella’s funeral online from noon to 1pm on Friday here.

Read our previous story about Estrella.

Pictured above is the Vigil for Estrella Catalan at St John’s Cathedral.

Click here or see below for a picture gallery of the vigil. Pictures by Keith Morris.

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