Cancer patient ordained in hospital

WARSAW, Poland -- May is ordination month in many dioceses, but the ordination of Fr. Michal Los, FDP, a member of the Orionine Fathers, was far from your typical ordination.

On May 24, Los was ordained a priest in his Warsaw hospital bed.

Los was diagnosed with cancer in April, and is now in critical condition. Pope Francis granted a dispensation allowing him to be ordained both a deacon and a priest in the same Mass, and Los was ordained by Bishop Marek Solarczyk of the Diocese of Warsaw-Praga. 

The day before his ordination, Los made perpetual vows in his religious community. Permission was granted to the director general of the congregation by Pope Francis.

Members of the Orionine Fathers, as well as Los’ parents and sister, attended the ceremony.

The day after his ordination, Los celebrated his first Mass from his bed. 

In a video posted on Facebook May 25, Los thanked Catholics who prayed for him, asking for more prayers and offering a blessing with the sign of the Cross.

“Praised be Jesus Christ, thanks for all your prayers and I hope you continue to praying, I bless all of you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” the young priest said on the video.