Mass ‘slaying’ in Lucban

Curtain-Raisers:

Inspiring text messages I want to share with Funfare readers, forwarded to me by friends...

• From Leah Salterio (of the ABS-CBN PR department): If God gave you a dozen roses and you ask why there are no thorns, He would just smile, show His bleeding hands and say, "I took them away so you wouldn’t get hurt."

• From Peachy Guioguio (also of the ABS-CBN PR department): Lenten diet – l. Eat your words, 2. Swallow your pride, 3. Digest God’s teachings, 4. Eliminate your ego, and 5. For dessert, indulge in prayer.

• From Maridol Rañoa-Bismark (STAR assistant Entertainment editor): Faith is like water in a river bed. The more you have, the smoother it flows over the rocks of hardships and difficulties.

* * *

Have you ever been "slain?" No, I don’t mean it in the literal but in the figurative sense. That’s how they call that brief "fainting" spell (not exactly, just a little light-headedness) you experience when the healing priest gently blows at your face after praying over you. You’re holding his oiled hands and an unseen force envelops your whole being and you get "dizzy" and, if you can’t resist it, you fall backward. There’s a cushion ready on the floor so you don’t hit the pavement with your head. Besides, there are "attendants" trained to help you lie down. And then, after barely a minute, you get up, fully charged with the "spirit."

There was a mass "slaying" three Tuesdays ago at the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church in Barangay Tinamnan, Lucban, Quezon, with Fr. Joey A. Faller, the KHHC spiritual director. The invitation came from Beverly Vergel, head of the ABS-CBN Center for Communication Arts, Inc. (CCAI), which helped in building the healing church located at the foot of a mountain highlighted at its peak by the imposing statue of Jesus’ (Ascension) which is said to be the fourth largest such statue in the world, coming after those in Bolivia (39 feet high), Brazil (33 feet high) and France. That’s the first image you see as you approach Barangay Tinamnan even from six kilometers away.

The group included Ethel Ramos and sisters Chit and Len, Ronald Constantino, Letty Celi, Veronica Samio, Nestor Cuartero and Ernie Pecho. We left Manila at around 10 and arrived in Lucban a little after lunch. Fr. Faller (who belongs to one of the prominent families in the town) treated us to a sumptuous meal at a nearby resort before leading us to the Healing Church where he said a healing Mass.

But before that, he asked each of us to write down four wishes on a piece of bond paper which was sealed in an envelope collected along with the others in a basket which was placed at the altar during the Mass.

During the sermon, Fr. Faller recalled how he got his healing power. (For details, read a related story by Leah Salterio on D-8.) Two of Fr. Faller’s two fingers were bent by an accident, so when he blesses the faithful (and the sick), he reminds you of Jesus.

The healing session was done after the Mass.

When my turn came, Fr. Faller asked what I wanted to be healed (I told him in a whisper) and then he closed his eyes and started praying over me. He made the Sign of the Cross on my forehead with his oiled hand and then gently blew at my forehead. And that’s when I felt that unseen force that seemed to be pushing me down. I resisted a bit (that’s okay, Fr. Faller assured me later, "It didn’t mean that you were not overcome by the Holy Spirit"). I didn’t fall backward like those before me but I was "slain" just the same.

It gave us a light feeling (Ronald claimed that his recurring backache was gone).

I urge you to be "slain," too, when you see Fr. Faller. For your own good.

Meanwhile, for the benefit of Funfare readers, here’s Fr. Faller’s complete regular healing Masses:

• Every Monday, 9 a.m., at KHH Church in Lucban, Quezon

• Every first Tuesday, 5 p.m., at Shrine of St. Anne, Malicboy, Pagbilao, Quezon

• Every third Tuesday, 12 noon, at Radio Veritas, EDSA, Quezon City

• Every first Wednesday, 8 a.m. at SM Makati and 12 noon (private)

• Every second Wednesday, 5 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Iyam, Lucena City

• Every first Thursday, 6 p.m. at Metropolitan Hospital, Masangkay St., Manila

• Every second Thursday, 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Church in Atimonan, Quezon

• Every first Friday, 12 noon at Export Bank, Buendia corner Pasong Tamo, Makati City; and 6 p.m. at Santuario de San Antonio Church, Forbes Park, Makati City

• Every second Friday, 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Sariaya, Quezon

• Every third Friday, 7 p.m. at St. Joseph The Patriarch Church, Mabolo, Cebu City

• Every first Saturday, 12 noon at Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

• Every second Saturday, 9 a.m. at KHHC, Lucban, Quezon

• Every third Saturday, 9 a.m. at Buklod ng Pagibig, 97 Balete Drive Ext., Quezon City; and 3 p.m. at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City

• Every fourth Saturday, 9 a.m. (healing Mass), 2 p.m. (recollection) and 6 p.m. (candlelight Rosary procession) at KHHC, Lucban, Quezon

• Every first Sunday, 8 a.m. at NBN Channel 4, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City; 9 a.m. at SM North EDSA; and 3 p.m. at Lord’s Flock on D. Tuazon corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

• Every second Sunday, 9 a.m. at SM Bacoor, Cavite City; and 3 p.m. at Divine Mercy Channel, Atlanta Centre Bldg., Greenhills, San Juan

• Every third Sunday, 8 a.m. at NBN Channel 4, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City

• Every third and fourth Sunday, 7 p.m. at St. Louise Parish Church, Lucban, Quezon

• Every fourth Sunday, 9 a.m. at SM Bacoor, Cavite City

• Every fifth Sunday, 8 a.m. at NBN Channel 4, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City

(For inquiries, call 042-540-3085 or 0917-853-6267.)

* * *

E-mail reactions at [email protected]