May 12, 2009 / 02:31 am
A priest who was critically stabbed just after a Friday morning Mass in a town near Corpus Christi is recovering. His bishop has called for prayers for both the priest and his attacker.
Fr. Shaji Varghese, 42, was attacked at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at about 7:30 am by a 36-year-old parishioner named David A. Rodriguez. Rodriguez stabbed, kicked and beat the priest, who is a native of India.
According to KRIS-TV, Fr. Varghese was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital by helicopter, where he was initially listed in critical condition.
The priest, whom parishioners described as inspirational and motivated, was appointed to the parish in October 2007.