The Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” during a prayer service in Washington on Tuesday as a peaceful ritual collapsed into chaos.
Father David Gaines, a parochial pastor at Lords Saint Lady's Cathedral in Spokane, Washington, prayed with Bishop Thomas Daly as the man launched the attack.
The attack was during the second night of the church, during a series of prayers to pinnaise at Lourdes Novena for healing, festivals of healing, peace, patronage of the sick, during the East Feast of the Patron Saints of the Sick It happened.
Video of Church Live Stream At the first line of pugh, he jumped out of his seat, and the celebration captured the suspect running towards the kneeling altar.
Gaines stood up and the man reached him, absorbing a punch in his face.
The unidentified attacker fell to the ground as Gaines jumped over him.
The two wrestled for a few seconds before church staff and other worshippers rushed to the priest's assistance.
One of the microphones picked up a witness telling the attacker to “settle down.”
“It's okay, it's okay, it's okay,” the voice added.
President Dallin Conal's father, who was leading the prayer when the attack occurred, sought security as he couldn't scream and echoed throughout the cathedral.
The man was handcuffed and led from the cathedral, and several men present were guided to his position and resumed their service with the prayer of “the disturbed gentleman.”
At the end of the service, Conal thanked those who “raided the sanctuary” to help the priest.
He also notified the congregation that the man had been arrested and charged with assault and trespassing.
Gaines was not injured in the offense and no one else was injured.
“Father Gaines and Bishop Daly are both doing well. Thank you for all your concerns and for coming back tonight's Novena,” the church wrote on Facebook.
“Whatever his motivations were, it didn't work, so it was a source of providing for us to be in the age of healing recently, and in all of this, this is what happens from a man who needs some kind of healing in his life. Or it's ironic.” Conal told Clem.
All the Celebrant returned to the Cathedral on Wednesday night and three nights of prayer.
“We're fine. It's been a bit shaking since last night, but today was the nasty event last night.”
Conal played around with Gaines and suggested that he should wear bandages like President Donald Trump wore after an assassination attempt in July 2024.
“I asked Father Gaines tonight to have her ears processed with a square bandage. I would have done that, but Father Gaines is becoming more sincere,” the priest said with a laugh from the audience.
The man is expected to appear in court on Thursday, the outlet reported.
The motive for the attack has not been revealed.
