When a Priest falls ill during Mass

Interior of St. Benedict Chapel. Source

This evening, my family and I went to the Chapel of St. Benedict in Alabang Hills for the 6:30 pm  Sunday mass.   Fr. Dunstan  B. Candol, OSB was the celebrant and everything seemed  all right until after the  second reading, when the  commentator announced that Fr. Olegario  Z. Cammeleran, OSB was  going to continue the celebration as Fr. Dunstan was not feeling well.

A few moments after the commentator made the announcement, I saw Fr. Dunstan being rushed  by  lay ministers out of the church.   He needed immediate medical attention.

Fr. Olegario carried on with the rest of the celebration and asked the congregation for prayers for the recovery of Fr. Dunstan.

When a priest falls ill   during mass, to me it  signals  a number of things.

Priests, both diocesan and religious, need our collective  understanding-- they too get literally sick and tired.  Their  daily schedule could be exhausting-- they wake up early, say their  prayers, celebrate mass and then they go about with their respective duties-- teaching,  officiating the  sacraments, counseling, administering and so on-- until they retire at night after saying their evening prayers.  They also  need rest and recreation--   let us not tire our priests unnecessarily.

We need more priests,  our current crop  will  eventually age and retire-- just like former Manila Archbishop  Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales DD,  who was recently succeeded by Archbishop  Chito B. Tagle DD, STD.  And the formation of priests is a long  and tedious process fraught with sacrifices.  Young seminarians are separated from their families to undergo rigorous spiritual,  academic and social  formation.  They study for numerous  years--  similar to the way  doctors go through medical  school and their specializations.   And this process  entails out-of-pocket  expenses as well.  In this regard,   it is upon us lay members  to  help   seminarians who may need financial assistance.

One  formation house I know that is in dire financial situation is San Jose Seminary in Quezon City.

Tonight, my family and I will include in our prayers  Fr. Dunstan  and all other members of the clergy who are infirmed.


POST SCRIPT. As of October 17, 2011:

Souce: Facebook

Fr. Dunstan B. Candol, OSB passed away at 8:20 pm last night due to cardiac arrest. 

His remains will lie in state at St. Benedict Chapel in Alabang starting tomorrow Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the Holy Mass offered at 11 a.m. On Thursday, his remains will be brought to San Beda Mendiola.

When I  posted in my blog about Fr. Dunstan's falling ill during the 6:30 pm mass yesterday at Saint Benedict Chapel -- I was not aware that his medical condition was that  gravely serious. It was only at 11 pm last night that I received a message from a close friend about Fr. Dunstan's passing away.

We will miss Fr. Dunstan. Please join us in prayer for the eternal repose of his soul.