A Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” during a Novena in Washington state as the peaceful ceremony collapsed into chaos on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Revered Father David Gaines, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Washington, was praying alongside Bishop Thomas Daly when the man launched his attack.
The assault occurred during the church’s second night of the Lourdes Novena for Healing, a series of nine days of prayers for healing culminating with the Feast of the Lady of Lourdes, the patron saint of healing, peace and the sick.
Footage of the church’s livestream captured the suspect jumping out of his seat in the first row pew and running toward the altar where the celebrants were kneeling.
Father Gaines stood up as the man reached him and landed a punch on his face.
The attacker, who was not identified, fell to the floor as Gaines jumped on top of him to subdue the man.
The two wrestled for several seconds before church staff and other worshippers rushed to the aid of the priest.
One of the microphones picked up a witness telling the attacker to “calm down.”
“It’s OK, buddy, it’s all right, it’s OK,” the voice added.
The rector, the Rev. Darrin Connall, who had been leading the prayer when the attack happened, called for security as the man’s screams echoed throughout the cathedral.
The man was handcuffed and led out of the cathedral by several men in attendance as Connall returned to his position and resumed the service with a prayer for “that disturbed gentleman.”
At the end of the service, Connall thanked those who “stormed the sanctuary” to help the priests.
He also notified the congregants that the man was arrested and charged with assault and trespassing.
Gaines didn’t sustain any injuries in the attack and no one else was injured.
“Fr. Gaines and Bishop Daly are both doing well. Thank you for all of your concerns and thank you for joining us again for this evening’s Novena,” the church wrote on Facebook.
A Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” during a Novena in Washington state as the peaceful ceremony collapsed into chaos on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Revered Father David Gaines, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Washington, was praying alongside Bishop Thomas Daly when the man launched his attack.
The assault occurred during the church’s second night of the Lourdes Novena for Healing, a series of nine days of prayers for healing culminating with the Feast of the Lady of Lourdes, the patron saint of healing, peace and the sick.
Footage of the church’s livestream captured the suspect jumping out of his seat in the first row pew and running toward the altar where the celebrants were kneeling.
Father Gaines stood up as the man reached him and landed a punch on his face.
The attacker, who was not identified, fell to the floor as Gaines jumped on top of him to subdue the man.
The two wrestled for several seconds before church staff and other worshippers rushed to the aid of the priest.
One of the microphones picked up a witness telling the attacker to “calm down.”
“It’s OK, buddy, it’s all right, it’s OK,” the voice added.
The rector, the Rev. Darrin Connall, who had been leading the prayer when the attack happened, called for security as the man’s screams echoed throughout the cathedral.
The man was handcuffed and led out of the cathedral by several men in attendance as Connall returned to his position and resumed the service with a prayer for “that disturbed gentleman.”
At the end of the service, Connall thanked those who “stormed the sanctuary” to help the priests.
He also notified the congregants that the man was arrested and charged with assault and trespassing.
Gaines didn’t sustain any injuries in the attack and no one else was injured.
“Fr. Gaines and Bishop Daly are both doing well. Thank you for all of your concerns and thank you for joining us again for this evening’s Novena,” the church wrote on Facebook.
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