Catholic priest dies in Ecuador after crucifix falls on him during livestreamed Mass
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Guayaquil, was struck by a falling crucifix while celebrating Mass. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death; the cause of the collapse remains unknown.
A Catholic priest in Ecuador has died after a large crucifix fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in Guayaquil, an accident that was captured on a livestream and has since circulated widely on social media. Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the city's Central Vicariate, was addressing his congregation when the crucifix came down and struck him in the head.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death in a statement published on social media the following day. «We announce that our beloved Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, CSsR., who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate, has departed for the Father's House to rejoice in His presence and glory,» the archdiocese said. The statement concluded with the traditional prayer: «Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.»
The cause of the crucifix's collapse has not been established. No official explanation has been issued as to whether structural damage or faulty fittings contributed to the accident, and the archdiocese has not publicly commented further on the circumstances.
Details about Father Sánchez Molinari's life and ministry remain sparse, but he belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, a religious community founded in 1732 by the Italian St. Alphonsus Liguori. The congregation has historically focused its work on poor and isolated communities. Before his assignment to downtown Guayaquil, Father Sánchez Molinari served in Vinces, in Los Ríos Province, according to local reporting.
He was also known for broadcasting Masses from his own social media profiles and YouTube channel, a practice that meant his final moments were visible to remote worshippers as well as those present in the church. The footage of the accident spread quickly online, drawing attention far beyond the parish.
The Redemptorists trace their origins to St. Alphonsus Liguori, who left a legal career to preach with companions in rural and isolated communities around Naples. The congregation expanded across Europe during the 19th century, with communities established in Italy, Poland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Its first mission outside Europe brought Redemptorists to the United States, where they worked first with Native Americans and later with Irish, German and Slavic immigrants, often teaching English to newcomers. Service to immigrant communities has remained a priority for the congregation, which today numbers around 4,500 members serving in 82 countries across all five continents. Its work is inspired by Psalm 130:7 — «In Him there is plentiful redemption» — and the congregation takes its name from a Catholic title for the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
The death of a parish priest in the middle of the liturgy has resonated among Catholics in Ecuador and beyond, where the Mass is understood as the central act of communal worship. For a congregation, the loss of a pastor in such circumstances carries particular weight, and the archdiocese's brief statement placed the event within the language of faith rather than accident or investigation.
No funeral arrangements or further details about the incident have been announced. The archdiocese's confirmation of his death remains the principal official account, and questions about the condition of the crucifix and its fittings are likely to be addressed as the parish and local authorities examine what happened.
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