During a livestreamed Mass, parish priest Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was killed when a heavy wooden crucifix toppled from the wall and struck him at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, prompting an outpouring of grief from parishioners who rushed to aid him.
The Fatal Incident at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church
The service at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil was underway on a Saturday evening when the tragedy occurred. Roughly 27 minutes into the broadcast, as the parish priest addressed worshippers from behind the altar, the large wooden cross mounted on the wall above him suddenly came loose and toppled forward.
Footage reviewed by NBC News captured the heavy crucifix striking the back of the priest’s head. Facing the congregation, the cleric did not see the structure falling behind him and did not stand back up after the impact.
The sudden collapse brought the liturgy to an immediate halt. Video of the service recorded screams erupting inside the sanctuary as attendees ran toward the altar to render aid.
Emergency Response and Archdiocese Confirmation
Emergency services rushed to the sanctuary, located in Guayaquil, a coastal city 265 kilometers southwest of the capital, Quito, but the priest was declared dead later that same day. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil formally announced his passing in a statement released on social media, identifying him as the parish priest of Perpetuo Socorro Church within the Central Vicariate.
We announce that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of the Perpetual Help church in the Central Vicariate, has departed to the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil
The tragedy unfolded just one day after the local archdiocese had congratulated the priest on the anniversary of his ordination, according to reports. Before his assignment in Guayaquil, he spent several years serving as parish priest at San Lorenzo in Vinces, situated in Ecuador’s Los Ríos province.
Religious Affiliation and Unanswered Questions
The clergyman belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1732 that maintains a presence in 80 countries. Former parishioners in his past assignments shared tributes remembering his pastoral dedication.
As of Sunday, church officials had not publicly provided an explanation for the collapse, leaving the exact reason the heavy crucifix detached from the wall entirely unclear.