One of the priests at the Diocese of San Pablo sang a Christmas song, while going up and down the aisles of the church on a hoverboard, as a way to greet the congregation on Dec. 24, The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo said in a statement.
Members of the congregation took a handful of videos of the incident, many of which have thousands of views on YouTube. In the videos, people in the congregation appear to clap as the priest begins his journey down the aisle.
While the congregation may have thought the priest's jaunt on this Christmas' hottest toy was amusing, the Diocese of San Pablo did not.
"The Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence. It is the Memorial of the Lord's Sacrifice," the diocese said. "It is the source and summit of Christian life. It is the Church's highest form of worship."
The diocese said the priest's actions made the service about him instead of Christ.
"It is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people," the statement said.
The priest, who was not named in the statement, said the incident was a "wake-up call," and apologized for his behavior, according to the diocese.
The priest will spend "some time to reflect on this past event," according to the diocese.
On Facebook, the reaction to the priest's suspension was mixed. Many said they would pray for him, and others noted that the hoverboard was a fun way to engage the crowd.
Comment: What hypocrisy! If Jesus walked on water why can't a priest ride a hoverboard?