A moment during a Catholic Mass in southern Brazil has drawn widespread attention online after a priest paused the liturgy to comfort an elderly man who became visibly distressed.
The incident took place on 18 January at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in the Diocese of Tubarão, in the state of Santa Catarina. Fr Carlos Henrique Fernandes was celebrating Mass when he noticed an older man approach the altar shortly before Communion.
The man, identified as Marcos, is a long-serving extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at the parish. On that day, he was attending Mass with his wife but was not scheduled to assist. According to reports, Marcos had briefly stepped outside the church after receiving a phone call from a family member.
When he returned, he appeared deeply shaken. Fr Fernandes later said he noticed the man’s distress while concluding the Eucharistic Prayer and became concerned about his condition.
The priest paused the liturgy and embraced Marcos as he wept. Members of the congregation then helped the man to a nearby room, where he was given water and allowed to rest.
After completing the prayers, Fr Fernandes continued with the distribution of Communion. He later went to Marcos and gave him Communion before the man returned home.
It was at this point that parishioners learned the reason for Marcos’ distress. He had just been informed that his 20-year-old grandson, who lived in a nearby city, had died by suicide.
Those present described the moment as deeply emotional. Fr Fernandes briefly informed the congregation that a tragedy had occurred, which helped explain the interruption to the Mass.
In comments shared later, the priest said Marcos had come forward seeking comfort and spiritual support at a moment of profound grief. The two men have known each other for many years, and Fr Fernandes said he believed the man was looking for the presence of Christ during his suffering.
A video of the incident was later shared on social media and spread widely across Brazil, reaching millions of views. Many viewers expressed sympathy for the grieving man and praised the priest’s response.
However, others questioned whether interrupting the Eucharistic Prayer was appropriate within the liturgical context. While some saw the action as an expression of pastoral care, others raised concerns about maintaining the structure of the Mass.
Fr Fernandes acknowledged that opinions differ on the matter. He said that, faced with a similar situation again, he would respond in the same way, believing that pastoral responsibility sometimes requires immediate action.
In the days following the Mass, the priest said he was told that Marcos had become calmer as he began to process his loss. He added that faith often plays an important role for people dealing with grief, particularly during times of sudden tragedy.
Adapted from the reporting by NCR.
