The police are investigating the crime.
‘I defended myself like Bruce Lee in priest’s clothing’
Contreras was stabbed the morning of Sept. 24, 2020, when he was spending a few minutes in prayer before celebrating the 7:45 a.m. Mass.
The assailant was “a young kid with a psychiatric condition and who seems to have wanted one less priest,” the priest told his parishioners and the local press reported.
The parish priest received “three light stab wounds that could have been something else, especially [affecting] the sternum. I defended myself like Bruce Lee in priest’s clothing, and thanks to that the wounds weren’t greater,” Contreras said, trying to downplay the attack.
The priest, who was 73 at the time, addressed his parishioners with words of encouragement from the hospital: “There was no hatred of God [on the part of the aggressor] in all this, but an acute psychotic crisis, I hope so at least. I am at peace and eager to continue working for the Lord.”