Father Graham Pugin‚ the Catholic priest who was shot in the face by a rubber bullet during the #FeesMustFall protest this week‚ is “in high spirits” and will soon return to church.

This is according to Father Russell Pollitt‚ who speaks on behalf of Holy Trinity Catholic Church‚ where Pugin ministers.

“He’s doing well. He is feeling much better. He is swollen and sore‚ but he is in high spirits. He has been talking about going back to church‚” Pollitt told TMG Digital on Thursday.

Pollitt said Pugin has stitches to his mouth and finds it hard to eat. He also has a chipped tooth.

“I think he will be ready to go to church on Sunday.”

Pugin was injured on Monday after intervening between police and protesting students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Police have apologised to him‚ and promised to open an inquiry.

Just moments before the rubber bullet was discharged‚ he had managed to stop a police nyala armoured personnel carrier from entering the church courtyard by blocking the gate with his body. He raised his hand and the charging nyala stopped.