The priest who was stabbed during a mass in a church along Upper Bukit Timah Road has made his first video appearance since the shocking incident.
In a short video posted on Facebook by the Archbishop of Singapore, Cardinal William Goh, he is seen waving and giving the thumbs-up.
Source: William Cardinal Goh on Facebook
In the clip, Father Christopher Lee had tubes attached to his face and arm but was looking none the worse for wear, considering his ordeal.
Cardinal Goh said Father Lee was recovering in the hospital and thanked God for protecting him.
He also asked followers to pray for him and his parish community.
Source: William Cardinal Goh on Facebook
In a pastoral letter on Sunday (10 Nov), the Archbishop said the priest’s life and critical organs were protected, but the consequences could have been worse.
Cardinal Goh thanked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and the Government for their support.
He also thanked the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, and the parishioners on duty for responding swiftly to the incident, and expressed gratitude to religious organisations and individuals who wrote to convey their solidarity.
This incident has made the Church stronger, he said, adding:
It has also reminded us to remain vigilant and not to take our hard-won peace and security for granted. As a community, we will come out of this incident more resilient than ever.
In a Facebook post on Sunday morning, St Joseph’s Church on Upper Bukit Timah Road, where the attack took place, said Father Lee was in stable condition after surgery to close his wounds went well.
He is still warded so doctors can monitor his condition.
Visitors are not encouraged at this time so that he can rest well, but prayers for his speedy recovery are encouraged.
Meanwhile, the police have stepped up patrols at places of worship to assure the public, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release on Sunday.
Source: Singapore Police Force on Facebook
They are also in contact with St Joseph’s Church to provide support and resources.
MHA added that the incident shows “the value of being prepared for an emergency,” warning that “incidents can happen anytime and anywhere, even though such incidents are far and few between in Singapore”.
St Joseph’s Church said on Sunday that masses and events would proceed normally from that day.
In his pastoral letter, the Archbishop told followers that they must “continue living our lives normally” while taking precautions and looking out for one another.
Every person who visits the church must be vigilant and alert those on duty if they notice something unusual, for example, a person who appears suspicious, or an object that is left unattended, Cardinal Goh said.
Followers should also “show understanding” over crowd control measures that are for the safety and well-being of everyone, he added.
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Featured image adapted from William Cardinal Goh on Facebook and Singapore Police Force on Facebook.
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Investigations are ongoing to locate the suspect.