Father Upset Me

"Oca! Long time no see!", Jess exclaimed as he saw his friend in the mall. "Have you moved elsewhere? I haven't seen you in church for quite a while now". "Fr. X upset me", Oca said sadly.  “Why, what happened?”, asked Jess. "I felt he didn't value my service in the parish for the past 30 or so years". Oca has long been an active member in their parish, long before Jess moved there.

“I have been playing the guitar during Sunday Masses long before Fr. X became parish priest. Ever since he came, he made changes that prevented me and the choir I accompany from serving at Mass.”, Oca lamented. “I have noticed that every time there is a parish celebration, it would always take place during the Mass where our choir is scheduled to sing. Worse, he’ll ask another choir to do the singing. Our choir is only informed when everyone else in the parish knows who’ll sing. At first, I just put up with it until he berated us in church one Sunday, in front of a number of people”.

“Why would he do that?”, Jess asked. “He did not like what we sung. He could have called us aside and speak to us like adults”, replied Oca.

“I am so sorry to hear about what happened, Oca. I thought you just moved house…it never occurred to me that you left because of such issues with Fr. X", Jess said.

"He has his favorites, Jess. Unfortunately, I am not one of those. He does not value people. I just go to another Catholic church to attend Mass. God isn't confined to one parish, di ba?"

Jess simply nodded. Before they parted ways, he gave Oca a big hug for he felt the hurt his friend has experienced in the hands of their parish priest.

As I write this, most parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila would have been welcoming their new parish priests following a reshuffle in parish assignments. This major reshuffle hasn't taken place since the time of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales.  Some parishioners would definitely miss their former pastors hoping that the new one would be like the old one or be much better. Some, I guess would sigh a relief especially if they could identify their former pastors in Fr. X or themselves with poor Oca in the above story.

I have encountered and worked with a handful of parish priests. Generally, they are good. Sadly, there were a few who have almost put me off in my faith and service in the parish. Like Oca, I just moved to another church where I am welcomed and can freely worship God and serve Him in the community. 

If I were Oca, I would have confronted Fr. X. I must admit that this is a path which we lay people do not usually go to. I would also inform the bishop of what happened to him.  At least the bishop is aware of the situation.  

The Diocese of Nottingham witnessed the installation of Msgr Patrick McKinney as its new bishop yesterday. Bishop Patrick's motto is "Seek the face of Christ". Let us pray then that our parish priests (and all priests for that matter) would continuously seek the face of Christ in their flock regardless of their status, that they would play no favorites, that they would be merciful, wise, respectful, and prudent when dealing with people. 

Some would argue "You cannot please everyone". True, however being rude or suplado (snobbish) or bossy is unacceptable. 

***

Best wishes to Monsignori Nestor Cerbo, Hernando Coronel, Mario Enriquez, and Alberto Salonga Jr.as well as Father Genaro Diwa on their new assignments in the Archdiocese of Manila!

Monsignori Cerbo and Coronel were rectors of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral). It was during Msgr. Coronel's time when Richard Leyson and I became lector-commentators there in November 1998. Msgr. Ding (or Fr. Ding as he once signed a book he wrote which I bought) was a cool and caring priest. I enjoyed having breakfast with him and other colleagues at the refectory after Mass. He's now Rector and Parish Priest of Quiapo Church!

In early 2002, he was succeeded by Msgr. Cerbo who, like me, is a product of Letran and UST. Msgr. Cerbo welcomed my inputs during my short stint as Coordinator for the Lectors-Commentators. When I left for the UK in 2003, he even gave me a despedida party. He's now Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan!

Msgr. Enriquez was parish priest of Gagalangin from 1988 to 1993. It was during his tenure that I began serving in Gagalangin. A silent type of priest, Fr. Mar, as we would call him then, is known for empowering the lay faithful in the parish. During Mass, you could often see his hands clasped in prayer and how gently he utters the prayers. He's now Rector and Parish Priest of Ermita Church!

Msgr. Salonga is the immediate parish priest and rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo. Years ago, Nidz and I would attend the Simbang Gabi as well as some Sunday and Wednesday Masses in that beautiful church. I like the way Msgr. Albert would give his homily: how he connects the first and second readings with the Gospel and what is the relevance of these readings in our daily living. He's now Rector and Parish Priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy!

Fr. Diwa used to be priest-in-charge of the liturgy at the Manila Cathedral. I would often assist him at Mass and other liturgical-related stuff since I was leading the lectors-commentators during that time. I am fascinated with his love for the liturgy, a love that kindled my interest in the same field as I serve as a Mass reader and special minister of Holy Communion here in the UK. He's now Rector and Parish Priest of the National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels!

God bless you all, padres!

Karaoke Time

We Pinoys are music-lovers. Music has long been ingrained in our culture. In almost any turn, regardless if they are big events such as weddings and graduation or ordinary ones such as planting ("Magtanim ay di biro, maghapong nakayuko..." rings a bell, isn't it?) or courting (Remember the kundimans of long ago to the present love songs), music was, is, and will always be part of a Pinoy's life.

Speaking about events, parties (of which Filipinos are the best!), have been occasions when we belt out songs thanks to the Karaoke/Magic Sing/whatever you call it. Whether you can sing like a pro or not, you'll surely find this activity relaxing and, perhaps, develop more your skills in singing. I have often liked songs such as "Tell me quando, quando, quando" (To Chiara's amusement), "Sway", "It's now or never", "Bikini mong itim", and other songs by Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, or our very own Jose Mari Chan. There is a score generated after the song, but who cares? You sing for enjoyment, not for an audition! Just be careful not to irritate those around you!

Apart from self-enjoyment, I am also amused with fellow singers. Some could sing and dance quite easily almost any songs.  This helps especially when one struggles to remember a song's tune by relying on the title alone. Coupled with a few drinks, singing becomes more spontaneous and swabe.

Music, it's been said, is the food of the soul. As it uplifts us when we're down and calms us when we're agitated, it also unites us with other souls on the same boat.  Keep on singing!

***

I'm very glad to hear the news that Espiritu Santo Parish (Tayuman, Sta Cruz, Manila) has been declared an archdiocesan shrine. Ever since a college student, and particularly during my last 2 years in UST, I have frequented this beautiful church.  Apart from the Sunday Mass, I have been to the Novena to the Holy Spirit held every Monday and Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help every Wednesday.  Include too the Simbang Gabi! 

What I liked with the church, apart from how lovely it looks like (the "Descent of the Holy Spirit " on the main altar, the elegant main altar, the huge statues, the pipe organ, the bells come to mind), is how the liturgy is conducted - with a sense for the sacred. The homilies delivered by the priests, especially Msgr Alberto Salonga Jr (Parish Priest since 1998), were direct to the point and practical. The choir is awesome! Until now, I still ask myself how could they do justice to Lucio D San Pedro's Misa Pastorela when another parish struggled to do so until it went to disuse.  Such was our love for that church that we attended the Simbang Gabi there for quite a number of days when my family and I visited the Philippines in 2010. For Nidz and I, that's our church at home. Strange, we didn't get married there.

Prayerful wishes to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo community!  May you continue to be open to the Holy Spirit so that He will be able to animate you in your mission to proclaim Him, not only within the confines of the parish, but more so across the archdiocese and beyond. Maligayang Kapistahan!