The ordination of Fr. Michal Los, FDP, a member of the Orionine Fathers, was far from typical ordination. Los was diagnosed with cancer a month ago, and is now in critical condition. On May 24, Los was ordained a priest in his Warsaw hospital bed.

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, Fr. Tarcisio Vieira, to whom Pope Francis sent a letter.

“The ceremony took place in an atmosphere of great and profound spirituality. After the initial prayer, the litany for the intercession of the saints followed for the life of Michal and for his congregation,” said Fr. Fornerod in a Facebook post about the event. The day after his ordination, Los celebrated his first Mass from his bed.