Fr. Suarez draws thousands seeking cure
July 31, 2008
Written by News Team, in Articles/Stories
Rodney J. JalecoSpecial to Manila Mail
VIENNA, Virginia= He strode down the length of the altar of the Our Lady of Good Counsel church, the strand of humanity waiting for his touch. Some fall back mysteriously but orange-vested volunteers stood behind them, ready to catch their fall. They quickly regain their equilibrium, professing they’ve been cured, and adding their testimony about a man whose name has become, for many desperately ill, synonymous with hope.
It was the first time renowned healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez visited the area, saying Mass in churches in Gainesville, Falls Church and Vienna under the auspices of the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia.
The 41-year-old priest, born in Taal, Batangas but now holding Canadian citizenship, was recently mired in controversy. He was banned from saying Mass in the Archdiocese of Toronto, and forbidden to perform healing services in certain Central Luzon parishes.
Reports say Fr. Fernando was banned in Canada because he violated the Doctrine of Faith disciplinary norms specified in the Instruction on Prayers for Healing. But in a thanksgiving dinner after the last day of his healing masses, Fr. Fernando agreed to speak with ABS-CBN’s Balitang America and Manila Mail, to finally air his side on the controversy.
“I never violated any rules,” he stressed. “It was a misunderstanding by my superiors (Fr. Suarez belongs to the Companions of the Cross based in Canada). Sumusunod lang ako sa utos ng aking superiors.”
“As a matter of fact, my superior has written a letter to the Cardinal (Thomas Cardinal Collins is the Archbishop of Toronto) clarifying everything, that it was not my fault because I’m an ordinary priest acting under the directives of the superior,” Fr. Suarez disclosed.
“Some people are trying to sensationalize this. Nagkataon naman na maraming pari na ginanun ang cardinal na yun ng Toronto because it’s their prerogative, to screen kung sino ang puwede mag-misa at kung sino ang di-puwede mag-misa. I wasn’t the only one,” Fr. Suarez averred.
He admitted that politics pervades nearly all human activity. “Siguro produkto na rin ako ng tinatawag na politics but malinis ang konsensiya ko, it’s not my fault,” he averred. At any rate, he said, talks are already under way between his congregation and the Archdiocese of Toronto to lift the ban.
He blames other church leaders back home for blowing the incident out of proportion. “The news that spread is that it’s all over Canada. No, it’s just one diocese. I’m not banned in all Canada,” Fr. Suarez explained.
“That’s one of the problems when you are featured in media,” he says of his recent popularity, “talagang titirahin ka. I’m ready for that, I have nothing to hide.”
STRICT RULES
Leaders of the Filipino Ministry strictly enforced rules imposed by the Archdiocese of Arlington precisely to avoid “misunderstandings” that could get Fr. Suarez in hot water again.
Ed Tiong of the Filipino Ministry disclosed that they coordinated with the diocese as early as January for Fr. Suarez’s visit here. “They said that if you want Fr. Suarez to be in the parish, the two things they asked are the bishop’s permission and the pastor’s permission. We met both those needs, the bishop (Paul Loverde) was very aware of the situation in the Philippines and granted his permission,” he explained.
“The diocese is a very welcoming diocese and they hold regular healing services, every third Thursday of the month and other parochial vicars do hold their own healing ministries as well. So this not anything different, that the Diocese of Arlington is not aware of. They’re familiar with healing ministries,” Tiong emphasized.
Organizers forbade taking pictures of the Mass and the healing service inside the church. They also enforced a no ticket-no entry rule, partly out of safety concerns. But no one was turned away, especially in the healing service that follows the Mass. At the Our Lady of Good Counsel, those without tickets were ushered into a waiting room until those inside the church itself had finished and could be ushered out.
“They had certain guidelines we had to adhere to. On of these is they wanted to make sure there was crowd control, that we are following the liturgical norms of the Church, that we don’t have any chaos or hysteria in the crowd,” Tiong said.
In that one afternoon that we caught up with the Mass and healing service, Tiong estimated the throng at over 2,000 people, including hundreds of volunteers who acted as everything from parking marshals to ushers to catchers of people who black out during the healing service. It was in fact, one of the best organized Fil-Am events this reporter has seen here.
Manuel Requiron came all the way from Long Branch, New Jersey with his family. He said his trust in Fr. Suarez was bolstered by what he witnessed. When it was his turn in the queue, Requiron said he collapsed, something he still has trouble explaining.
“Ako nga, bigla tumumba. Nagulat na lang ako walang nangyari sa akin. Pagka-hawak sa akin, tumumba ako, parang wala naman sumalo sa akin pero dahan-dahan ako nahiga,” he said.
Sterling resident Cecilia Yanzon recounted how she could suddenly move her big toe after being touched by Fr. Suarez. She said arthritis and gout made it difficult and painful to move her left foot’s big toe, but she was happy to show us how easily she could move it now.
Tess Bonzon of Germantown, Maryland said she is undergoing dialysis. “He touched my stomach and my neck and my head,” she recounted. “Parang magaan sa katawan. Kasama sa panalangin, umaasa ako,” she said.
Ruby Barbosa of Herndon was standing by the curb when a van drove up. An East Asian-looking couple struggled to disembark their infant child who was hooked up to an oxygen tank and an apparatus that gave off a shrill alarm that caught everyone’s attention. It was obvious the child was in dire condition. Volunteers rushed them ahead of the queue.
Barbosa’s eyes welled at the sight. She recalled how her own son had spent much of his early years in and out of the hospital. “He was very sickly when he was small. He spent his first birthday in the hospital and we often had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital. As a mother you can not take seeing your son suffer like that,” she said.
But they met “a lady” who had been cured herself in Medjugorje who wanted to see her son. Barbosa said her son’s health improved after that encounter, ending the rushes to hospital. “You should see him now,” she beams.
“It’s really your faith that heals you, nothing else” she stressed. “As Fr. Suarez said, with God there is nothing impossible. If you believe in Him, offer everything up to Him, everything’s gonna be alright,” she declared.
Popularity: 100% [?]
I believe that Father Suarez has a powerful healing touch. He said that our Lord Jesus is the one who is healing through Father Fernando and I believe very much .about what he said. I got a DVD of his Healing Mass in Saint Ann’s Church, Ontario, Canada and I enjoy watching it always. I also have Rosary bracelets blessed by him. My request for his prayer for spiritual and physical healing for some family members are granted and I thank the Lord always. May God Bless Father Fernando, Father Jeff and all the priests in the Companion of the Cross. May God Bless all the projects of Fathers Fernando and Jeff (MOP)/
With all due respect, you seem to believe that God has the power and inclination to intervene in worldy afairs (by answering prayers, for example), but that He chooses not to do so unless and until Father Suarez (or some other ordained representative with healing powers) makes the request…
Why would God not just heal everyone with a snap of His divine fingers? Why would God not listen to and answer your prayers directly? Why would God not listen to and answer the prayers of your sick family members directly? Why would prayers be necessary at all if God already knows who is in the most need and who is most deserving of His blessings?
God does have the power to heal and he wants us to believe in him and ask him for healing. We must have a relationship with God. God gave us free will to make the choice. His gift to all people is choice. We are not his puppets. We have to choose Jesus and follow the commandments of God. I believe Jesus has given Fr. Fernando the gift to heal and to bring people closer to him.
Read the Bible
Gospel of Luke:
12:9 But he that shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Luke 11, 9)
We have the power to heal ourselves, if we ask (see above) and it is according to God’s will and plan.
Only two crazily envious bischops in the Philippines banned Fr Fernando from their dioceses, in the process these two bischops have cultivated the ire of their parishiners no less. I do not mean to be judgemental, but a mere look on the faces of these two say it all. the envy, hatred, suklam , bitterness and all negatives that should not even be on people, especially clerics. This is not bad-mouthing, but I just wonder how these two rose to their present position is beyond my comprehension.
I had the golden chance to meet Fr Fernando one on one for a few minutes in the house where he stays, his energy I would say really belongs to the divine realms, his mere presence heals and intimidates one to deepen the faith in the God who created us but have never seen,. So as it is that if some clerics envy him, they are exposing how shallow they are in their faith..
I was diagnosed with Stage 3a Breast Cancer and was undergoing radiation treatment at a Pasig hospital in the Philippines when i first attended a mass officiated by Fr. Suarez. in March of 2007. My radiation burn was making me uncomfortable but i forgot all about it during the mass and afterwards. He did a general healing and i really felt better, renewed in body and spirit and believed that God has started healing me through Fr. Suarez. Since then, i persevered to attend his masses whenever he is here because i feel good everytime, with a very comforting peace in my heart and mind and undoubtedly a much stronger faith in God, the greatest healer and the best doctor. Father Suarez is an inspiration to all of us . I am now on remission according to my oncologist. Praise God!
Dear friends in Jesus Christ, all I want to say is that I’m very grateful to God for his gift of healing through the hands of Fr. Fernando Suarez. I have attended Fr.Suarez healing Mass for three times now, in 2006 and 2008 and I have no doubt about the wonders our Lord Jesus is doing in him. I had received all my healings and rested in the Holy Spirit. Most of all is the enormous strength he has when he continues to touch thousands of people, one by one tirelessly and making sure everyone who came to him left with an answer. What an amazing grace of God to experience! Fr. Fernando Suarez is indeed God sent and a disciple of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to the Almighty God The Healer Amen.
I have never seen Father Swarez and Iam very interested to know more about him.
I have a member of my family who has health problems for so long and getting worse.,We heard of Father Manni who supposidly rose from the dead and also holds healing services,but this sick person did not get healed.For that reason,this person has lots of doubts that he will get the healing,my question will be,what is the difference between these two priests? they both do the same type of healings and services.Personally I do believe in healings through certain people but I guess the sick person always has doubts.I want him to go see him in san diego in november. Can anyone here tell us his story like total healing that happened to them???
WHEN WILL HE EVER STAY FOOT IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR GOOD ? HE IS BUILDING THE SHRINE AND HOPE HE IS ALWAYS THERE …PARA NAMAN THE PEOPLE IN DIFFIRENT CITIES IN PHILIPINES CAN ALSO SEE HIM.
WHEN IS HE COMING BACK TO CEBU????
I would like to give thanks to our Lord for the succesful operation of my sister – She had a lump in her breast which doctors decided to remove, via mastectomy. Prior to the operation on January 13, she was prayed over by Fr Suarez in Makati. I was with her and even I had felt the great healing energy of this priest who had a very simple aura – the kind which emanates from sincere, honest, untainted children of God. The operation was done Jan. 30 and now , she is recovering and doctors say she does not even have to chemo and although positive with cancer cells they are negligible and not reaching a stage. May the Lord continue to bless Fr. Suarez and his groups for bringing hope and healing to thousands of believers who have found their healing thru God’s awesome mercy and goodness using Father Fernando Suarez as instrument.
Fr. Fernando was spending some days of rest in Bohol during the first week of February 2009. Bishop Tony Palang who is a good friend of Fr. Fernando invited the healing and humble priest to visit Cebu even for only a few hours. He gladly came and visited my family in Consolacion, Cebu on Feb.4. He did not do any healing Mass but he just played an hour or so of tennis which is his recreation. However, he was able to touch and pray over some relatives and neighbors of ours. It was a grace for us to welcome Fr. Fernando Suarez and Fr.Jeff into our humble home. It was like Jesus visiting his friends Martha and Mary. We praise the Lord for his visit. We pray for his noble healing ministry.
DEAR FATHER SUAREZ,
I BEG YOU TO PLEASE HELP HEAL MY MOTHER SUSANA CHONG. SHE IS SUFFERING FROM COLON CANCER STAGE 4 AND HAS SPREAD TO HER BONE, WHICH GIVES HER EXTREME PAIN ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT….
INSTEAD TO PAYING THE EXPENSE OF CHEMOTHERAPY, I WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO GIVE IT TO YOUR CHURCH TO PROMAGATE MORE HEALING TO THOSE HOPELESS CASE LIKE MY MOTHER….WE PROMISE TO BE LIVING TESTIMONY OF YOUR GREAT HEALING WONDER….
MY HOME ADDRESS IS 1310 BENAVIDEZ ST., ROOM 304, TONDO, MANILA.
HOPE YOU CAN VISIT MY MOTHER AND HEAL HER…..
I REALLY WANT TO BRING HER TO YOUR HEALING MASS BUT MY MOTHER IS WEAK. HER STOMACH IS VERY HEAVY DUE TO CANCER, AND HER BOTH FEET ARE SWOLEN…
PLEASE NAMAN PO, TULUNGAN NINYO PO KAMI…..ANG PANGINOON DIYOS NA PO BAHALA BIGYAN PA PO KAYO NA LALO BIYAYA AT MAKAPAGPAGALING PA NANG MARAMI…..
SALAMAT PO….
LUBOS NA GUMAGALANG
Dear Father Suarez, please keep my family , sons, husband,myself in your prayers, I go to your website everyday to ask for blessing for my family. Please,please Father, I know how busy you are and I will never get the opportunity to see you. I believe in your healing powers, and I believe in our Lord,please help us. Pray for us please, we are deperate,Please don’t let me lose another son, let him be with Jesus. Please keep us safe and healthy, please help us and all those who believe . God Bless you always
Father Suarez, I beg you to kindly keep me in your prayers. I had two major operations in the past two years and I am still not healed because doctors do not know the cause of the pains that I have on my face, ears and mouth.
Father, I trust in You through Our Lord Jesus Christ that I am going to be healed.
Amen.
Father Suarez, when are you going to be in New York and/or When can you be in New York? You can stay at my house in Long Island, New York. I am a decent married woman. I can also arrange among other catholic friends to send you the ticket. Kindly advise. God Bless You.
Dear Fr. Suarez,
I attended your healing mass last February 22, 2009 in Montemaria, Batangas City. God is so good!
I was so blessed that I got the chance to finally touched and prayed over by you as I was diagnosed with stage IIB breast ca last June 21, 2008. I feel great…. Right now, I don’t have difficulty in breathing….. I know,,, that I am HEALED!!!!….Thanks to you and to GOD for giving me another chance to live and survive my cancer.
Thank you and may GOD Heal and Bless each and everyone of us….
God Bless you always….
I have been healed many times of different ailments by our beloved Fr Fernando, so now I make it my apostolate to raise up to him in prayer people who do not have access of the internet. Aurora Benico, carotid tumor. Mayee Nicomedez, cancer of the breast . At these point, I know these two people are already healed.Thank you God for the gift of Fr Fernando, to the world and in particular to the Filipinos. May I include my son Jay Luna to be prayed over?
I am greatful that Fr. Suarez gave me the inspiration and enlighten me that God is always there for us. I am lost before,and one day a friend told me that I should meet Fr. Suarez then I decided without second thought to go to his healing mass at Parañaque , I felt that God healed my brokenness through him, he helaed my pain, my sickness, my faith came back… thank you so much.