Brother John

Apart from Fr Paul, the next person you won’t fail to see at Mass in Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church is John Staniland. John serves the parish as a Senior Altar Server (Sacristan Mayór we would call it in the Philippines), Special Minister of the Eucharist, Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Secretary, and Chair of the Liturgy Group under the PPC.

I first met John on Good Friday in 2004, a few months since I started worshipping in this church. Surprisingly, John seems to know me beforehand and was thanking me for taking part in the Washing of the Feet that was done the night before. Right after our chat, I decided to do the Stations of the Cross as I won’t be able to attend the parish’s devotion that evening. I was on the 10th/11th station when John approached me and politely informed me that the church was about to close. He gave me a few more minutes and then we both made our way to the door. That meeting was the nucleus of my relationship with this respectable man.

John has been such a wonderful fellow parishioner whom I worked with in the Liturgy Group for some time in the past and in doing the Mass readings since 2005. He has given me his trust and confidence which allowed me to contribute further into the life of the community. He is that role model in serving God and His Church which each and every parishioner should emulate. He is that humble servant ever attentive at the Lord’s Table. He is that person whom we could look up to as our brother.

Congratulations, John for receiving the Benemerenti Medal on the 24th May. You truly deserve it! May your tribe increase!