Fr Paul

Catching up on the loads of mail we received when we were away for our trip to the Philippines 2 years ago, we were surprised to hear that Msgr David Forde was leaving our parish on the first weeks of January.
One Saturday evening, we attended the Mass which would be the first one to be presided over by Msgr Forde’s successor – the youthful Fr Paul Newman. During his homily he gave a short introduction of who he was. We learned that he had that calling to the priesthood at an early age and was previously assigned to the Diocese’s Youth Centre (a.k.a. The Briars).

What touched me during his homily was his awareness of working together for the good of the parish (parishes actually as he is also looking after the neighbouring Divine Infant of Prague Parish). People would have looked up on their parish priests as the source of all knowledge and direction in the life of the Christian community. But for me, listening to Fr Paul, made me realize that he’s one who wishes to engage with all parishioners and allow them to contribute in their own way for the growth of the parish.

Indeed, in his first few months he mobilised the people (including the Poor Clare sisters) in raising funds for the refurbishment of the church. By the end of 2007, Our Lady’s was ready to celebrate Christmas with the walls, beams, Our Lady’s image and the crucifix being repainted, a new carpet was installed for the sanctuary, and the patio being remodelled to name a few.

Realising the cultural diversity of Our Lady’s Parish and the need to celebrate this, he initiated in September 2007an international cuisine event featuring the various international meals prepared by parishioners. Two days later, the Sunday Mass was so special as readings and the Bidding Prayers (a.k.a. Prayer of the Faithful) were said in various languages. I had the privilege of proclaiming the Second Reading in Filipino. Inspired by this gesture, I proposed that our website be included in the parish’s website as a link and vice-versa. Through this partnership both communities have been supporting each other since then. Fr Paul was also involved in this Holy Week's "The Seven Last Words" project.

His engagement with people includes the little ones too. Every time those attending the Children’s Liturgy come back from the sacristy to present what they have discussed and worked on in their liturgy, Fr Paul makes it a point not only to talk to the facilitators, but most especially to the children, offering them praise and encouragement.

I have often heard Fr Paul address me as “My friend” to which I am very grateful for.

Fr Paul, as you celebrate your 20th Anniversary as a priest on 20th July, may you continue to be that friend who would inspire us in bringing God’s love to His people so that more and more souls would come together to praise and serve Him.

Ad multos annos!
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Best wishes too go to Msgr Mario Enriquez, former parish priest of St Joseph Parish de Gagalangin, who celebrates his 29th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary this 18th July.

Msgr Mar, as you would know, has been instrumental in establishing our organization in that parish. He has been a source of guidance and strength when the group was at its infancy stage.

Like Fr Paul, he has also whipped the community into shape by promoting lay empowerment which saw more lay faithful participating in the affairs of the parish via the Worship, Education, Service, Temporalities, and Youth (WESTY) committees of the Parish Pastoral Council and the historical Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV)which fielded an enormous number of youth parishioners (that included me!)to volunteer in ensuring a clean and honest national and local elections way back in 1992.

God bless you, Monsignor!