"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!
"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!
