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The appeal of Father Suarez

August 9, 2008

Kutitap by Becky PagsibinganMost of us, Filipino Americans in the Washington, DC area, have attended the healing masses or have heard about Fr. Fernando Suarez who celebrated the masses and healing sessions in three Catholic churches in Northern Virginia on July 21 - 23, 2008. Approximately, more than 3,500 people attended with hundreds of volunteers helped manage the spiritual events. Attendees have gathered at The Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, St. Philip Church in Falls Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna. These churches belong with the Diocese of Arlington. The Office of Multicultural Ministries of the Diocese and the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia Council coordinated the healing ministry of Fr. Suarez to the Washington, DC area.

Who is Father Fernando Suarez?
Fr. Suarez was born in 1967 to a poor family in Taal, Batangas. His father was a tricycle driver, his mother, a seamstress. As a young boy , he had to help bring in some money to support the family by renting out inflatable tires to beachgoers. At an early age, he was already known to be exceptionally helpful and was drawn to religious activities.

Not too many people knew that he had a degree in Chemical Engineering in Adamson University
in Manila. He tried, but was not successful in becoming a priest Manila. In 1995, he visited Winnipeg, Canada where his calling to be Roman Catholic priest was accomplished. He was finally ordained to the priesthood in 2002.

Invitation to Washington, D.C.
I first heard about Fr. Suarez from Presy Guevara, one of my co-directors at the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, late last year. He mentioned to me that the priest from Winnipeg, Canada was being invited to come to the U.S. to celebrate a healing mass in the Washington, DC area. He said
that Fr. Suarez was well known to many Filipinos in the Philippines, the U.S. and in Canada because of the record breaking crowds that attended the healing masses that he celebrated. Presy, then initiated asking for donations addressed to Mary Mother of the Poor program specifically for the board and lodging of the priest.

The rest is history with the involvement of the Diocese of Arlington, the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia and the rest of the Filipino American community in the area. Leadership and volunteerism were again put to a test, not for social nor civic cause, but this time for spiritual endeavor. The community was mobilized. With an event this magnitude involving three parishes, the feat was not that easy. There were discussions, arguments and unforeseen problems but at the end they were all resolved. It was a most successful religious event where everyone who attended was served and spiritually gratified, nonetheless, the volunteers felt accomplished and happy that they had served and were part of the religious event. I, among others, commend all involved for giving out and showing their best. We are all grateful.

The Humor of Fr. Suarez
“Masaya ang dating” ni Fr. Suarez. He marched through the aisle with a big smile on his face as he passed by the pew where I was seated. He looked at the enthusiastic attendees right and left getting connected with them before reaching the altar. He started his homily by telling us humorous anecdotes about his previous encounters with countless people who attended his healing masses. He was definitely not the serious type and stern looking priest. One comical anecdote he told us was about a lady who excitedly asked him to pray for her niece. He said, “OK“ and touched her knees to begin his prayer. The lady stopped him and said, “Father, my niece is in the Philippines! “ This elicited laughter from the audience.
Seriously, I’ve heard and read a lot of testimonies like cripple persons walk, the deaf hears, ailments of different kinds healed, cancerous growths disappear, etc. Whether people say he performed miracles or not , numerous told stories in the web or in printed materials were recorded.

The Healing Session
This was my first time to attend a healing session. After the mass, attendees who stayed for the healing session were lined up in front of the altar about twenty at a time. About the same number of volunteers wearing orange vest were standing behind each person. I was told that they were the “catchers” for those who will be “slain in spirit.“ I read that those who experience this after being prayed over fall backwards but not from being unconscious of having fainted. It was explained in the handout that this is a temporary “resting in spirit” moment when the body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who do not experience this should not consider the healing a failure. The healing is not only for physical or medical ailments, but is also focused on emotional, spiritual or temporal concerns. We were told that we should not focus solely on our ailments or problems, but on the Lord.

Being seated somewhere in the middle pews, I kept on craning my neck to see what was going on. I could not really see Fr. Suarez from where I was seated because he was not that tall. At one point I saw heads bent down looking at, I presumed, someone who fell and from time to time, some others. When my time came, I finally saw Fr. Suarez up close and watched him as he walked his way along the long line. He extended out his hand and lay them upon the head and/or shoulder of each supplicant (the term they used which meant one who asks humbly and submissively). This time, I actually saw a couple who was “slain in spirit.” Then, the Father was in front of me, touched my head and right shoulder very quickly and moved on to my husband who was next to me. He asked what his ailment was. He answered “pain in his shoulder,” and Father touched his shoulders and moved on to the next. We did not experience “resting in spirit,” but likewise, we were prayed on and received his blessings.

An After Thought
Father Suarez had a lot of strength and stamina on the physical side, to be able to touch, bless and pray over hundreds or thousands of attendees at one healing session. Is he getting this from regular exercises? Amazingly, he did not show any manifestation of being drained or tired after long hours of encountering countless number people with different ailments or depressing stories to tell. But most of all, he had embraced and practiced the very special gift of healing people. Repeatedly, he emphasized that the healing power that was bestowed upon him did not really come from him. He was just being used by God to let the Holy Spirit passes through him. This strong faith had brought and still bringing great hope in the face of adversities among people in all walks of life.

On the lighter side of things. Obviously, Father Fernando Suarez was a humble and likeable priest. He revealed that he smiled a lot to make his facial appearance looked better. He said that when he was little, people commented that he was pangit like an “ugly duckling.” So now, he looked more pleasant. Amen.

MISCELLANEOUS

Birthday Celebration
Millette Suarez invited some friends to celebrate her birthday at her home in Beltsville, Maryland. Husband Lito was the self-designated cook with his famous gourmet “Callos.” The only other person who I considered had matched Lito’s “Callos” was Pete Roa, the late husband of Boots Anson-Roa. Now that Pete is no longer here, it is Lito, in our opinion, who holds the title.

Most of Millette’s friends and relatives who participated in the Cotillion dance on her 50th birthday a few years back were present except Tony Cruz, who moved to Florida and Charito Hablero, who passed away unexpectedly a month ago. It was like a reunion with the group reminiscing their performance and how their weekly rehearsals for three months went. Of course, they mimicked me on how I taught them.
Present were Doc Perfecto and Purita Santiago. Fely Gomez, Nannette and Bonn regino, Agnes Yaptengco, Loiue Mil, Larry Hablero, Robbie Regino and of course, Millete’s children, Nikki and Tracy Suarez. I was so amused with the lovable and cute grandchildren of Millette and Lito named Cheska and Nicole, the children of Nikki and Mylyne.

UPCOMING ACCOUNTANT’S GALA BALL
The Filipino American Institute of Accountants are busy preparing for their Gala Ball on August 31, 2008. This will be attended by Filipino Accountants nationwide and from Canada. According to Bobby Tamayo and David Pagsibigan, the convention will be a three-day affair to celebrate the 22nd NAPACA Convention 2008 hosted by our local accountant organization.

Highlight of the Gala Ball will be a Rigodon dance to be performed by the officers and committee members of the FAIA. the local host organization.

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