Germany’s highest award for Fr. Pierre Tritz, S.J.

As German Ambassador Herbert D. Jose was citing the achievements of Fr. Pierre Tritz, S.J. prior to conferring on the venerable priest the Supreme Commander of the Order of Merit award, he quoted someone who said, "India may have its Mother Teresa; the Philippines has Fr. Tritz."

In a light vein, Mr. Jess argued or wondered about the awardee’s citizenship, which seemed both French and German. That was because the 90-year-old Fr. Tritz was born and raised in a district along the border of Alsace-Loraine which, for hundreds of years, has been alternatively claimed as French or German territory.

One of Fr. Tritz’s conditions when he decided on entering the priesthood was that he should be assigned to China. It had always been his wish to become a missionary among the teeming millions in that country. He did get to stay there but only until 1949 – the year the Communists expelled foreigners, including all Catholic priests and nuns.

It might be claimed, therefore, that Fr. Tritz came to the Philippines not by design but through circumstance, and we are fortunate indeed that even by "accident", he has lived here these many years, devoting his time and energies to the tremendous betterment of the community.

More than a hundred thousand children have gone to school through ERDA (Education, Research, Development Association) which Fr. Tritz founded and which he still heads as president. He has taught in certain universities, but his ministering to the poor and the underprivileged has always been his main concern. His obsession. Thousands of street children and Hansenites are among his beneficiaries.

The Jesuit priest has received prestigious awards from the French and Swiss governments. (It must have been for this reason that French Ambassador Renée Veyret and Swiss Ambassador Lise Favre were asked by Mr. Jess to sit beside Fr. Tritz during the ceremonies at the embassy residence.)

Now, Mr. Jess contended, it was the turn of the Germany government to confer on Fr. Tritz its highest award.

Being an avid music lover and a pianist besides, Mr. Herbert, before the rites, presented a brief musical program. Owing to his desire to promote Filipino young talents, this featured violinist Regina Buenaventura, assisted by pianist Lourdes L. Gregorio, and soprano Jolilorlyn Quitain, with concert pianist Jonathan Coo assisting.

Jonathan opened the program with a vibrant rendition of Widmung (Dedication) by Schumann-Liszl. Followed the violin solo Beausoir by Debussy and Liebesleid by Kreisler. The soprano then sang O wusst ich doch den weg (Oh, if I only knew the way) by Brahms.

Musical numbers were resumed after the rites: the Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn (first movement)and the song Adieu, forets, an aria from Tchaikovsky’s opera Jeanne d’Arc.

Ambassador Jess has valid reason to encourage the youthful participating artists; in performance, they marvelously combined technical skill, expressiveness and a fresh energetic approach.