A priest and a staff member at a Pleasantville church have tested positive for the coronavirus.

News 12 is told the information was shared in a letter to parishioners.

Interim Administrator and Youth Minister Father Luke Hoyt says his diagnosis came after people in the community encountered someone who recently tested positive for the virus. 

He notified his parish in a letter stating, “Unfortunately, I just received a positive result from my own COVID-19 test taken on August 28th, 2020…This was a routine test which all clergy in the Archdiocese are asked to take on a regular basis; it was taken before we knew of our potential exposure."

Several parishioners tell News 12 that Hoyt administered First Communion to about 10 children on Saturday - a day after he took a coronavirus test.

They also mentioned that he celebrated Mass Sunday morning and gave communion.

People who attend the church say they wouldn’t have expected this to happen, given the health protocols they say the church has been adhering to.

“I’ve always felt safe when I go to this church,” says attendee Sue Byrnes. “I think they did abide by every CDC recommendation and it’s most unfortunate that this happened.”

Those who were exposed must now quarantine for 14 days.

The parish has since suspended public masses and office hours until Sept. 11.

Health advisors from the Archdiocese recommend that anyone who visited the church recently should notify their doctor and get tested as a precaution.