A beloved Catholic priest is recovering in hospital after a man pulled out a knife and stabbed the 48-year-old in front of shocked worshippers in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Reverend Tomy Mathew was about to begin the 11am Italian mass at St Matthew's Catholic Church on Sunday when the man approached with what was believed to be a kitchen knife.
"You can imagine our shock," said one long-time volunteer at the parish, located on William Street in Fawkner.
"But the ambulance was here quickly and he just walked out to get into the ambulance."
Reverend Mathew had been in the foyer when the man attacked, police said.
A woman, who didn't want to be identified, said there were chaotic scenes when the stabbing occurred.
"There was some shouting and lots of movement in the back of the church," she said.
"I saw Father Tomy coming to approach me and he sort of waved me over.
"He asked if I could look at his neck. He said, 'I've just been stabbed'. As I removed some of his garment I could see quite a bit of blood."
She called triple zero and then tried to chase the attacker down with two others and get photos of him.
"I didn't get too close because I didn't know if he still had the knife."
Father Tomy is recovering from non life-threatening injuries at the Northern Hospital.
The church secretary said everyone was in shock.
"I couldn't believe that anybody would come in here during a mass and stab a priest," she said.
"It's unbelievable and you just don't understand how something like this could happen.
"All I can say is he must have been deranged."
The man had been asking to see Father Tomy in the days before the attack, according to parishioners, but was not a member of the congregation.
Church officials have been told that the attacker was overhead saying something derogatory to Father Tomy before he was stabbed, something to the effect of him being Indian and that meant he was a Muslim or Hindu and shouldn't be in charge of Catholic mass.
Police could not immediately confirm that information and parishioners who have spoken with Fairfax Media have given various accounts of the man's exact words.
The church secretary said the parish had been blessed to have Father Tomy for the past two years.
"Everybody loves him," she said.
A spokesman for Monsignor Greg Bennett, vicar-general of the archdiocese of Melbourne, said Father Tomy was looking forward to being back with his parishioners as soon as he could.
"Father Tomy is very keen for his parishioners to know that he's OK and his thoughts are for his parishioners," he said.
"He is doing an absolutely wonderful job for his parishioners and he's been treated appallingly."
Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Rhiannon Norton said nearby residents should not be concerned.
"At this stage we believe the incident is isolated," she told reporters. "There's nothing to suggest that he's a danger to anyone else."
The church opened again on late Sunday afternoon for a Syro-Malabar Indian community service.
Attendees told Fairfax Media they had no concerns for their safety.
Dozens of people, including families with young children, mingled and drank tea.
Police, however, drove past the church several times during the service.
A 72-year-old man was arrested late on Sunday night in connection with the stabbing.
"No charges have been laid at this stage," a police spokeswoman said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
