GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador | October 19, 2026 | A Catholic priest died after a large wooden crucifix fell on him during a livestreamed Mass at a church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on October 17, shocking parishioners and prompting an outpouring of condolences from the country’s Catholic community.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil identified the priest as Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, known locally as Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro. The crucifix, mounted on the wall behind the altar, suddenly detached and struck him while he was leading prayers during the evening service. The incident was captured by the church’s social media livestream, according to Ecuadorian news outlet Primicias and local newspaper El Universo.
Parishioners immediately rushed to help the priest, with people heard calling for an ambulance as the broadcast continued. The archdiocese subsequently confirmed his death and expressed condolences to his family, fellow Redemptorist priests and the parish community. Authorities had not publicly announced the cause of the crucifix’s fall as of October 19.
Sánchez belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order founded in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori. The congregation is known for missionary work and pastoral service, particularly among communities in need. Before serving at the Guayaquil parish, Sánchez had worked as a parish priest in Vinces, in Ecuador’s Los Ríos province.
The tragedy came just one day after the Archdiocese of Guayaquil had congratulated Sánchez on his priestly anniversary. During a memorial Mass on October 18, parishioners and fellow clergy gathered at the church to pay tribute to him and pray for his family and religious community.
In a particularly poignant moment, Sánchez had spoken during his final homily about the brevity of life and the importance of dedicating time to God and loved ones. His remarks, recorded during the livestream, circulated widely after news of his death emerged.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of heavy fixtures mounted inside places of worship, although no official finding has yet established why the crucifix fell. Any determination of structural failure or maintenance issues would depend on further examination by the relevant authorities.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
