A Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” during a prayer service in Washington state as the peaceful ceremony collapsed into chaos on Tuesday.

The Rev. David Gaines, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Wash., was praying alongside Bishop Thomas Daly when the man launched his attack.

The assault occurred during the church’s second night the Lourdes Novena for Healing, a series of nine days of prayers for healing culminating with the Feast of the Lady of Lourdes, the patron saint of healing, peace and the sick.