UPDATE: Juneau priest remains in critical condition after cardiac arrest

CatholicAnchor.org
Father Thomas Weise, a dynamic Catholic priest for the Diocese of Juneau, remains hospitalized in critical condition in San Luis Obispo, California following a life-threatening cardiac arrest that he suffered on Nov. 25 while visiting family. The 46-year-old Father Weise was ordained a priest for the Juneau Diocese in 2002.

According to a notice from the Juneau Diocese, Father Weise went into cardiac arrest on the evening before Thanksgiving. The exact cause is still unknown. After CPR by family and the paramedics, his heartbeat returned but not his breathing, and he did not wake up.

The following night, while still in the intensive care unit and sedated, his heart stopped again. After approximately 45 minutes of CPR his heartbeat returned.

“Since Friday morning (Nov. 27) the goal has been to have him heal and hopefully wake up,” the Juneau Diocese stated. “Although we see progress that his body is healing, unfortunately these two cardiac events have been extremely tough to his brain and body, and he has not woken up yet.”

According to the diocese, tests show that Father Weise has “a severe brain injury from a lack of oxygen during those incidents.”

“We all hope and pray that Fr. Thomas will recover so that he can continue to be part of our physical lives here…but if that is not God’s plan, then we know he will be closely looking over each one of us,” the diocese stated. “Please pray that over the next few days Fr. Thomas will continue to heal and fully recover, and that we may gain understanding of God’s grace in this very hard situation.”

Father Weise has been serving as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Wrangell and St. Catherine of Siena Church in Petersburg. Both parishes are in remote areas but Father Weise tackled the geographical challenge by maintaining an active blog, posting audio clips of all his homilies and offering words of encouragement to parishioners. Known for his engaging speaking style and willingness to engage the wider culture, he has also been on a number of public panels discussing a wide range of issues related to Catholic faith, morals and social teachings.

Well known for his love of the natural world, Father Weise has enjoyed kayaking in the many waterways of Southeast Alaska.

Updates about Father Weise’s condition will be made public on the Diocese of Juneau website at www.dioceseofjuneau.org. Cards, letters, and notes of encouragement can be sent to Father Weise and his family at the following address:

672 Howard Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401