PRIEST DIES AFTER HEAVY CRUCIFIX FALLS DURING LIVESTREAMED MASS IN ECUADOR

Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari, 52, was celebrating Mass in Guayaquil when a large wooden crucifix fell from the wall behind the altar. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

A congregation in Ecuador is mourning the sudden loss of a beloved priest after a large wooden crucifix fell on him during a Mass being livestreamed from his church.

Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari died on October 17, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, known locally as Perpetuo Socorro, in Guayaquil. The 52-year-old priest was standing near the altar and facing the congregation when the heavy structure mounted behind him suddenly detached and struck him.

Footage of the service captured the frightening moment. Congregants could be heard crying out for help as several people rushed toward the priest. Those present called for an ambulance, but the Archdiocese of Guayaquil later confirmed his death.

A COMMUNITY MOURNS A PRIEST REMEMBERED FOR HIS SERVICE

Father Sánchez belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order devoted to missionary work, preaching and serving disadvantaged communities. He was originally from Cuenca and had carried out pastoral work in several parts of Ecuador before serving at the Guayaquil parish.

Parishioners later remembered him as a priest who made time to listen, offer spiritual guidance and support vulnerable members of the community. His work included initiatives aimed at helping families in need and creating opportunities for children and young people.

His death has left worshippers grieving and struggling to comprehend how an ordinary religious service could end in such a sudden tragedy.

WHAT CAUSED THE CRUCIFIX TO FALL?

The precise cause of the accident has not been publicly established in the reports available. A technical assessment is expected to examine why the large wooden crucifix detached from its mounting. Investigators have also examined the circumstances surrounding the incident.

At this stage, there is no confirmed finding explaining whether the structure’s mounting, its condition or another factor caused it to fall. The incident has raised questions about structural safety inside places of worship, but conclusions should wait until the investigation is complete.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil expressed condolences to Father Sánchez’s family and religious community. Memorial services were also arranged as people gathered to honor his life and ministry. <

For those who knew him, the loss is not simply about the shocking circumstances of his final moments. It is about a priest whose work, faith and relationships had become part of everyday life in his parish.

May Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari rest in peace, and may his family and congregation find strength as they mourn him.