A righteous attempt to integrate a hoverboard into Christmas Eve mass has seen the Roman Catholic church issue a swift reprimand to the culprit.

But it wasn’t just a member of the congregation who smuggled in the sometimes unexpectedly flammable product.

A church in the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna in the Philippines has been left without their priest, after he was suspended for a righteous stunt that saw him roll around the church on a hoverboard.

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Although the congregation clearly enjoyed it – they could be heard clapping and cheering throughout a video of the priest – the diocese was not as impressed.

“December 24, 2015, before the final blessing of the Christmas eve mass, as a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard,” a statement from the diocese read.

“That was wrong.”

It added that the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, was a time for the “utmost respect and reverence”.

“Consequently, it is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people,” the statement read.

“The priest said that it was a wake-up call for him; he acknowledged that his action was not right and promised that it will not happen again.”

The priest was suspended and it was not made clear when he might return.

“He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event.”

See a video of the hoverboarding clergyman below