This is so heartbreaking! 💔

Seminarian Tom Kloucek passed away unexpectedly, “following medical complications,” the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, announced on May 19, 2026. 

In the statement, the diocese expressed its “deep sorrow” over his “unexpected” death, revealing that he spent five days on retreat with his brother seminarians just before his passing.

“Tom was a man of great faith who loved Jesus Christ and the Church,” the statement reads. “Reflecting on his vocation, he once wrote:
‘Praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament was where I finally understood Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself at the crucifixion… He died on the cross for you and for me. Jesus loves me.’”

Archbishop Alexander Sample of the Archdiocese of Portland also expressed his sincere grief over the loss of Kloucek, praying for the repose of his soul.

“I grieve the passing of our seminarian, Tom Kloucek. Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul, and for all who mourn his loss. He will be greatly missed,”  Archbishop Sample wrote on X. 
“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen,” the archbishop prayed.

Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary, where Kloucek studied, expressed their sorrow after learning of Kloucek’s death. They said he was a “blessing” for the seminary.

“Tom Kloucek was a blessing for Mount Angel Seminary and his brother seminarians, especially in the propaedeutic cohort, from the day he first arrived at Mount Angel in summer 2025,” the seminary wrote on Facebook. “The Hilltop community mourns his passing and prays for his eternal rest in the peace of Christ.”

Countless social media users flooded the comments on each of the posts. Many of them expressed their condolences and prayed for Kloucek’s soul.

“Amen 🙏 May Christ’s Peace rest upon his family, friends and fellow seminarians and faithful,” one user said.
“Ahh but the Lord saw that He was ready; his earthly mission complete, and took him home,” another user said. “My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this beautiful soul.”
“Deepest sympathies to his family and friends. 🙏🏻” someone else wrote.
“...‘in God’s safe keeping still he abides…’ I always believed this,” another user said. “May he rest in peace.”

Let us pray for the soul of seminarian Tom Kloucek with the Eternal Rest Prayer:

Eternal rest grant unto Tom Kloucek, O Lord.
And let the perpetual light shine upon him.
And may his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
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