Skip to content
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Catholic Priest stabbed in THROAT minutes before Sunday Mass - you'll be surprised WHAT he accused the priest of being

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
'As I removed some of his garment I could see quite a bit of blood.'

Fr. Tomy Mathew, a Catholic priest from Kerala, India, was the victim of a hate crime this weekend.

Fr. Tomy Mathew was stabbed in the neck just before delivering his Sunday Mass.

Fr. Tomy Mathew was stabbed in the neck just before delivering his Sunday Mass.

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/20/2017 (6 years ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Catholic priest, stabbed, Mass, Fr. Tomy Mathew

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Minutes before his Sunday Mass at St. Matthew's Parish in Fawkner, Australia, an elderly man approached Fr. Mathew.

According to News18, Thiruvallom Bhasi, the editor of a Melbourne daily visiting Thiruvananthapuram, witnessed the event.


"While the ceremony was on, the accused came forward and shouted that since he [Mathew] is an Indian, he couldn't conduct the mass."

Christian Today reported the man screamed at Fr. Mathew, "You are Muslim or Hindu...I will kill you" before stabbing the priest in the neck.

A woman, who asked not to be identified, witnessed the attack and said: "There was some shouting and lots of movement in the back of the church. I saw Father Tomy coming to approach me and he sort of waved me over.

"He asked if I could look at his neck. He said, 'I've just been stabbed.' As I removed his garment I could see quite a bit of blood."

Father Tomy Mathew, 48, was stabbed in the neck at St Matthew's Parish in Melbourne as he was about to start saying Mass.

Father Tomy Mathew, 48, was stabbed in the neck at St Matthew's Parish in Melbourne as he was about to start saying Mass (St. Mathew's Church, Melbourne/Facebook).


Fr. Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, a Public Relations Officer of Thamarassery diocese, explained Fr. Tomy, a native of Karimbu, has served as vicar of St. Matthew's Parish for the last four years.

He added that Fr. Tomy's thick clothing, which he wore due to the cold weather, helped keep what they believe was a knife from doing more serious damage.

Fr. Savarimuthu Sankar, of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, explained: "Hate crime became a concern and it is high time for the government to initiate dialogues with other countries to prevent such crimes.

"Every effort should be made by the government abroad to spread the message of appreciation for others. We condemn this incident and pray for his speedy recovery."


Fr. Mathew was taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries to his neck and is expected to make a full recovery.

Thank you, Lord, for your veil of protection. Bless Fr. Mathew and his flock, that they harbor no fear and know only your peace and safety. Amen.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.