When a Church Turned Into an Unexpected Drama Show
Picture this: a peaceful lunchtime prayer at the open‑air grotto of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes on Ophir Road. Suddenly, a rowdy visitor appears and the day takes a wild turn. Below is how the story unfolded, sprinkled with a dash of humor and emotion.
The Unexpected Guest
- The woman was deeply focused on her prayers when a man—apparently quite tipsy—saw her and decided it was the perfect time to flash his “charm”.
- He floundered over, reached out, and gave her a full‑body grab—shoulder, arms, back included.
- Whoops! Panic ensued. The woman burst to her feet, sprinted outside, and the drunken intruder followed suit like a bad pop‑song remix.
The Holy Chaos
- Other worshipers—lunch‑lovers on their way to the multi‑purpose hall—heard the commotion. One brave soul tried to stop him.
- Instead of a “good guy” scenario, the drunk guy turned violent: he shouted, tried to rip off his shirt, and tossed a wooden bench—“hold my beer!”
- The bench missed its target straight, but the man then launched a punch, sending a churchgoer’s glasses flying like a dramatic—yet unnecessary—splash.
- Eventually, the scenario turned into a dramatic “pin‑down” scene. However, the man complained the ground was too hot, so he let the rabbit slip and ran out.
The Great Canal Caper
- During the big escape, the man slipped into a 1.5‑metre deep drain on the compound’s outer edge.
- He did a one‑time “drain‑paddling” routine: walking, back‑forth, and lying in there for a while.
- Police arrived, entered the drain, but he was already making a “canal splash”—jumping into the nearby Rochor Canal.
- The officer in the water tried to catch him, while teammates tossed in an orange buoy like a lifeball on a hectic game show.
Aftermath and Security Shakes
The 26‑year‑old was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He was handed a range of charges: hospital assault, harassment, drunkenness, and “vicious insults towards a public servant.” The man is still in hospital custody.
Father Michael Sitaram, the 63‑year‑old parish priest, said it was the first time anything like this had happened in the church since he took the reins in 2016.
Security? He’s planning to up the game. The church already patrols on Saturday evenings and Sundays, but, “after this gig, I’ll beef up the guard lineup, especially when the crowds are bigger.”
Police Investigation Ongoing
We’ll keep you posted on any new developments. Until then, keep your prayers safe—no drunk men or canal flips expected!
