Cardinal Rosales leads celebration of Fr. James Ferry’s golden jubilee

The American priest who arrived in the Philippines with Gen. Douglas MacArthur would be celebrating his golden jubilee today.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales would be presiding over the Mass in honor of Maryknoll Fr. James Jay Thomas Timothy Patrick Paul Ferry at the Shrine of Jesus, located at the Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

Fr. Jim, as he is fondly called, has spent 50 years in the Philippines doing mostly pastoral and seminary work. Now 81 years old, he is currently the Manila Archdiocese’s vicar for religious.

In recognition of his valuable contribution to the Church, the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin even wanted to nominate him as a bishop, but he declined.

For him, "To be a priest and a missionary priest is fulfillment enough."

On Feb. 23, 2002, Pope John Paul II conferred on him the Medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

Fr. Ferry was born on June 7, 1925 in New York. Before starting his priestly life, he first served at the US Navy during World War II as a corpsman (surgical nurse) before he entered Maryknoll in 1946. When asked about his sea voyage with Gen. MacArthur, he would often say, "No, it was Gen. MacArthur who came with me. He boarded my ship."

He had to leave the Philippines for a few years, but he returned in 1956 after he was ordained a priest of the Maryknoll Congregation.

He was first assigned in Paete, Laguna but was later transferred to Mindanao where he spent 30 years in Tagum, Lupon, Baganga, Bato-Bato and Davao City. "These have been wonderful years of mission work," Fr. Ferry said. It was during this time that he learned to speak fluent Cebuano.

For a time he was the regional auperior for Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in the Philippines. He also taught at the Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) in Davao and help train many priests and bishops.

The current Bishop of Kidapawan, Romulo Valles, who had served as his sacristan for a long time, was one of them. Bishop Martin Jumoad of the Prelature of Isabela and the "hero/martyr" of the Prelature of Infanta, the late Fr. Charlito Colendres, who died while rescuing flashflood victims were, among his students at REMASE.

In 1989, he was re-assigned to Manila. In March 1996, Cardinal Sin appointed him Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Manila to succeed the late Bishop Cornelio de Wit, MHM. In December 2003, Archbishop Rosales re-appointed him to the same office.

As Episcopal Vicar for Religious Men and Women in Manila, he used to teach Sacraments, Liturgy and Homiletics at San Carlos Theologate, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary and Maryhill School of Theology.

Each weekend, he says Masses and hears confessions at Christ the King Parish in Green Meadows and Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City. He also gives recollections and retreats. "Health wise, I can’t complain. I have a full day’s work and aside from a few aches here and there, God has indeed blessed me." — Evelyn Macairan