The death of Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari shocked the religious community of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The priest, 53, passed away on Saturday, October 17, while celebrating a Mass that was being livestreamed on social networks, when a large wooden cross detached from the wall behind the altar and fell onto him.
The tragic episode occurred at the church Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the cleric served as pastor. The footage from the livestream captured the moment the structure collapsed and the faithful’s despair, who began to call for help.
The news generated numerous expressions of grief among those who knew the priest and the religious communities in which he had carried out his pastoral work. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death and conveyed condolences to his family, friends and fellow parishioners.
The priest’s last words before the cross fell
Moments before the accident, Patricio Sánchez Molinari had shared a reflection on life, death and the importance of dedicating time to God and to loved ones. His words were recorded in the live broadcast of the Mass and gained particular significance after the tragedy.
“Dear brothers, one day, all of us who are here will die… Sometimes the time we have spent on other things does not carry as much meaning as the time we spend with God,” he articulated during his homily.
Then, he added: “That quality time we give to God, to our brothers, to family, is the best spent time.”
According to TN, the priest spoke these words about three minutes before the accident. After finishing the homily, he continued with the celebration of the Eucharist, when the cross behind the altar detached from the wall and fell on him.
Who was Patricio Sánchez Molinari, the priest who died during Mass
Patricio Sánchez Molinari was a native of Cuenca, a city located in southern Ecuador. He was 53 years old and belonged to the Congregation of the Most Blessed Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious community founded in Italy in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.
At the time of his death, he was leading the church Our Lady of Perpetual Help, situated in the south-central part of Guayaquil. Before assuming that responsibility, he had spent several years at the parish San Lorenzo de Vinces, in Ecuador’s Los Ríos province.
According to local media, the priest had also studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. He was known for his closeness to the faithful and for broadcasting the religious celebrations via social networks, a practice that allowed more people to follow the Masses.
A detail that gained particular relevance after his death was that on Friday, October 16, just one day before the accident, he had celebrated his priestly anniversary.
How the accident occurred that killed the priest in Ecuador
The event occurred during a Eucharistic celebration at the church Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Sánchez Molinari was standing in front of the altar when the large wooden cross behind him detached from the wall and fell on his head.
The Mass was being livestreamed on the Internet, so the incident was recorded on video. In the images one can hear the screams of the attendees and their pleas for help as the faithful attempted to assist the priest.
The ceremony was abruptly interrupted and the attendees called for an ambulance. News of his death spread quickly and caused a shock among those who had followed the livestream and the parish community.
As of the initial reports, the official causes for why the cross detached from the wall had not been disclosed.
The Church’s farewell message after the death of Patricio Sánchez Molinari
After the death was confirmed, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil released a statement to confirm the news and to express their sorrow for the priest’s loss.
“Our dear Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari has departed for the House of the Father to enjoy His presence and His glory,” the religious institution stated in the farewell message.
The Archdiocese also expressed its solidarity with the Redemptorist family, the priest’s loved ones and the faithful of the parish where he served.
The shock spread to other communities where Sánchez Molinari had worked. From the San Lorenzo de Vinces parish, where part of his pastoral career had been developed, they also shared a message to remember his service.
The priest’s death, occurring during a service that was followed live on the Internet, left the Guayaquil Catholic community in mourning and brought back into focus the figure of a cleric who had devoted his life to accompanying the faithful.
