An Oklahoma priest has died after an accident at his church, a Catholic Church leader said.
The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said the Rev. Linh Bui, 56, died after sustaining injuries from an accidental fall through the sacristy at St. Ann Catholic Church in Elgin, where he was pastor.
Coakley shared the news of Bui’s death on Facebook, where he earlier posted information about the priest’s accident. He said Bui was medically transported to OU Trauma Center for treatment after falling through the sacristy ceiling. A sacristy is a room within a Christian church that is used for preparing for worship and storing sacred items, including liturgical books, vestments and sacred vessels.
On Friday, Coakley said Bui died while surrounded by his family.
“It is with great sadness that I announce that Father Linh Bui passed away this morning from his injuries,” the archbishop said.
Coakley’s post was followed by an outpouring of grief as the faithful took to social media to express their condolences and to share memories of Bui.
“Such a wonderful, sweet, kind, holy man who exemplified what it is to be a real Christian and a role model for all. He will be greatly missed,” one parishioner wrote on Facebook.
“Sleep with the Angels and rise with the Saints Fr (sic) Bui. I am forever Blessed to have known you,” wrote another individual who knew the priest.
Another person described the priest’s death as “devastating.”
“God, please be with his family and the Church. He was always joyful and welcoming,” she wrote.
In addition to serving St. Ann Catholic Church as pastor, Bui also served missions in Sterling and Apache.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma priest dies after falling through ceiling of Elgin church
