Fr. Do back in town

Healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez of Batangas arrived from Canada early Saturday morning and will be in town until April 17. It is his eighth visit here since his ordination in 2002.

Fr. Suarez, 40, is a chemical engineering graduate of Adamson University and discovered his power of healing when he was 16 but was afraid to use it, not knowing why or how he acquired the gift. Eventually, he accepted God’s calling and entered a contemplative order of monks in Canada where his family migrated in 1995. Later, he joined the Companions of the Cross, a Catholic community of priests and seminarians founded by Fr. Robert Bedard in Ottawa in 1985.

Word of Fr. Suarez’ empowerment by the Lord has spread like wildfire. There are myriad stories of people finding a cure for their incurable illnesses after being "slain" or touched by Fr. Suarez.

Those who know of Fr. Suarez marvel at his works of wonder – how he erased the congenital hole in the heart of a 10-year-old grandson of a Filipino-Chinese taipan, how he restored the sight of two elderly nuns in Capas, Tarlac, how he brought sight to a six-month-old baby who was born blind, how a popular Filipina celebrity dentist (her clients include high-profile movie stars) was healed from thyroid cancer and began to speak again after she had completely lost her voice, how he obliterated the cancer in the wife of a former Filipino Davis Cupper, how the chronic back pain of the wife of a successful businessman (who owns a nationwide pawnshop chain) vanished through a mere phonecall, how he made the lame and the crippled abandon their wheelchairs and crutches and walk away, how a national artist could paint again after years of suffering arthritis in her hands, how a woman – dead for several hours – woke up from a pray-over, how a man in a coma for three days regained consciousness and many, many more.

Through it all, Fr. Suarez is unaffected by the attention and amazement. He doesn’t care for the fame and glory. He remains humble, simple and dedicated to his vocation.

"It’s not me," he says. "It’s God. I am only His instrument. I am able to do His work because of Him only through Him. This gift is not for me. I must share it with others. And if people get healed, they need to praise the Lord. Honestly, I don’t know how people get healed. It is the mysterious way the Lord works."

Fr. Suarez isn’t the type to flaunt. He doesn’t ask people to touch his robe or cling to him so they may be healed. He’s a regular guy who loves to play tennis and squash, craves for halo-halo on a warm day, spends hours patiently attending to hundreds – sometimes, thousands – who line up to be prayed over and enjoys the company of friends.

Last week, Fr. Suarez was in Las Vegas for healing Masses. He was scheduled to pray over hotel owner Steve Wynn, afflicted with tunnel vision. However, the meeting was postponed.

While in Las Vegas, Fr. Suarez prayed over injured PBA player Eugene Tejada who is wheelchair-bound. Tejada was brought to Fr. Suarez from San Jose, near San Francisco, where he lives and undergoes therapy.

"Eugene was in the front row of a healing Mass I celebrated in Las Vegas," recalls Fr. Suarez. "The next morning, he came to see me in Dr. Jun Berberabe’s home where I was staying."

There are reports that Tejada is now able to take a few steps on his own and plans to return to Manila in November.

Fr. Suarez says he will call on coach Ron Jacobs who suffered a stroke five years ago.

"It’s all about faith in the Lord," says Fr. Suarez. "It’s important that we are God-fearing."

Fr. Suarez doesn’t choose whom he prays over. He treats everyone the same way. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, if you’re a celebrity or not. His doors are open to those who are reaching out to the Lord, no matter whom they are.

Last Sunday, Fr. Suarez joined Fr. Jerry Orbos in a recollection for the public at the Meralco auditorium on Ortigas. This morning at 9, Fr. Suarez will celebrate a Chrism Mass at the Cathedral in Lipa City. Tomorrow, Fr. Suarez will be the main celebrant in a healing Mass on the fifth floor of Megamall at 12 noon.

The schedule of some of Fr. Suarez’ other healing Masses is as follows:

April 9 – 9 a.m. San Fabian, Pangasinan and 6 p.m. Divine Mercy church in Barangay Maliwalo, Tarlac City. April 10 – 2 p.m. Colegio de San Agustin auditorium (1,300 capacity), Dasmariñas Village. April 11 – 9 a.m. Santuario de San Jose, Greenhills. April 12 – 4 p.m. Dambana Ni Maria parish church, Cabanatuan City. April 13 – 1 p.m. Holy Rosary parish church, Angeles City.

One of Fr. Suarez’ dreams is to see the rise of a shrine for the Blessed Virgin Mary at Montemaria on the slopes of Batangas City overlooking the bay and the Verde Island Passage. Montemaria will be a haven for pilgrims, a center for healing and spiritual rejuvenation, a retreat for self-examination, a center of apostolate for the poor and a place for evangelization.

A Filipino-Chinese taipan has commissioned the sculpting of the Montemaria statue in China. The statue, envisioned to be as tall as a 38-storey building, will stand like a beacon of light.

Batangas Rep. Dodo Mandanas is assisting Fr. Suarez in realizing his dream.

For information on Fr. Suarez, visit his website www.fatherfernando.com or call his close friend Greg Monteclaro at telephone nos. 772-2190/92.