KUALA LUMPUR: A Catholic church priest in Singapore was allegedly stabbed in the face by a man during the evening mass today.

He is in stable condition after seeking treatment for the injury at a hospital.

According to a Channel News Asia (CNA) report, the priest was stabbed near the mouth.

The report quoted Singapore's home minister K Shanmugam saying that the suspect, a 37-year-old Singaporean Sinhalese man, who claimed to be a Christian has been arrested.

The incident allegedly happened at the St Joseph's Church located at Upper Bukit Timah and the victim in the attack was identified as parish priest Christopher Lee.

The country's culture, community, and youth minister Edwin Tong was quoted condemning the attack.

"Such violence, of any form and for any reason, has absolutely no place in Singapore, let alone at a place of worship", Tong was reported to have said to CNA

An eyewitness who had been in the mass said after the incident, parishioners were told to remain calm and pray for Lee.

He said he did not know what had happened until he saw police officers arriving and heard the term "assailant" being used.

Later, he said he had spoken to other parishioners who were seated in the first few rows in the front who shared the story about the stabbing and the commotion.