By Willy E. Arcilla, Contributor
INQUIRER.net
THE AWARENESS and popularity of Canadian-based Fr. Fernando Suarez has been soaring in recent weeks as increasingly more Filipino faithful and Christians worldwide attend and bear witness to his healing ministry at which the disabled walk, the visually-impaired see, the deaf hear and the mute speak. There are patients with cancer and other diseases who are cured. Yet, despite a cult following that seems to rival local celebrities, Father Suarez remains admirably humble, insisting that “I am not a healer” amid persistent labels as the “healing priest” or “miracle priest.” Raising his voice somewhat to emphasize the point and ensure that all can hear clearly, “it is not me who heals, but our Lord Jesus Christ, and He uses me merely as an instrument for His grace.” He draws an analogy to Christ’s healing power with “water passing through one’s hands.”
During a healing mass held recently at SM Megamall’s Trade Hall, Father Suarez repeatedly said in his homily, “I feel so embarrassed whenever people reach out to touch my robes,” again emphasizing it is God’s omnipotence that heals both the body and spirit. But despite this self-effacing attitude, he urged all the faithful present “not to feel embarrassed in praying for compassion and healing” for all afflictions — physical or spiritual — for nothing is impossible with God. He explains that the miracles people see or personally experience are demonstrations of God’s love that serve to help strengthen the people’s faith. If the source of all evil in this world is pride, manifested in being self-centered and an egoistic “ownership” of one’s accomplishments, he says the source of all good must lie in being “Christ-centered” and complete abandonment and surrender to God. “If we rely on Jesus, we will not be disappointed based on His promise that He will not fail us if we trust in Him.” However, while he urged all brethren to implore good health and a fullness of life with total confidence as children of God, he also admonished that God wants “holistic healing,” and not just “partial healing,” including the healing of one’s heart and conversion of one’s soul. He went on to pray for the moral illnesses and social injustices that bedevil the country, specifically the graft and corruption plaguing government and the wrenching poverty oppressing millions; for the deepest divisions to be healed and discrimination of all forms banished. In offering a reason for why God does not seem to answer all our supplications, he said perhaps “sometimes, what we ask for may not be good for us.”
In an interview prior to the mass, this writer asked Father Suarez if he can share what God tells him in his personal conversations during private moments of prayer, to which he replied, “God says He loves me, and He is happy with what I do in sharing the gift of healing with all the faithful.” This writer later learned that Father Suarez interacts, touches and prays over each and every person in all of his healing services — regardless of how long it takes or how exhausting it can get.
Before an audience consisting of the sick and the curious, the faithful and the skeptics, captured on digital cameras and video recorders, shown live on closed-circuit TV and later on nationwide TV, Father Suarez performed his individualized healing ministry on thousands, moving constantly and laying his hands on the old and the young, many of whom rose from wheelchairs and spontaneously shared poignant stories, testifying to God’s goodness through Father Suarez.
When this writer asked Father Suarez what he would like to tell the millions of Filipinos who may have desperately wished to attend his healing sessions, but cannot because they are preoccupied with earning a living or do not possess the means, he says reassuringly, “God heals in different ways, so we must all believe in his goodness. While it is God who heals, it is faith that saves.” Fittingly, Father Suarez reminds us of the gospel passages when Jesus brings back to life a grief-stricken father’s only daughter, and a woman suffering from years of debilitating illness touches the hem of His cloak, in which He says “Take courage… your faith has made you well.”
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February 1st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Hey, c’mon people. Let us use our common sense. Do you think 30,000 people would flock to his session if they smell they are being duped. You can gauge the truthfulness of Fr Suarez’ mission by its fruits. You see, people arrived there with so much faith. If they don’t have that faith, would they go there? Of course, his mission has this love offering or fund raising but surely it would go to his foundation which is looking after the poorest of the poor; and that for Montemaria which needs real financial fundings. Simply read Fr Suarez life history and you would know his mission is blessed by our God. By the time that he was sure of himself that he needs to exercise his gift of healing, he did so and wants to heal almost everyone, as much as he can do. Even up to the point of making his healing available to the internet and television.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Hi Mr. Arnel Mercado,
I am one of millions of followed Fr. Suarez here in the Phils. in any way I can. We were there also in Montemaria during the 3-day healing vigil. I believe the healing miracles happened through him and I can also attest to that. Anyway, from where are you in Canda sir? My former boss lives in Vancouver maybe around more than 10 years now and she said “kilalang kilala si Fr. Suarez dito sa Canada.. another cousin in Toronto and a friend in Ontario. Anyway, Phils. is just a small piece of cake compared to Canada. God bless everyone!
February 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am
Whether we believe religion or not, that it must be elsewhere and not in the government, healing of this kind must be recognized by the government and proclaimed as the Step ! for the sick before seeing the doctor if there is time yet, of course. This will supplement the cheap medicine bill. If this healing stuill cost money, its only donation just like the donations required of the health center doctors anywhere in the country.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:26 am
salamat din po,
sige po and let’s continue our discussions here and pray and hope,…really hope so we’ll recieve the ‘healings we need’, ang tutuo po e we have a regular ‘Healing Mass’ here in Toronto,our community,from Manila din po,and believe it or not, some of our members too, myself,also go and join other healing services too,’because of faith that with Jesus,we can be healed,…pag may big “C” ka,and the one praying over you,with the congregation laying their hands too and praying for you too,you will in all boldness and honesty will tell and declare,to the Priest or to Fr. when he asks you,’what is it you want from Jesus?’ i have cancer po,i want to be healed,i still want to live and enjoy life as a husband as a father and as a lolo and serve also,like the many members of the community, serving in the Church,helping couples,families,the OFW’s,and our kababayan’s too back home or wherever.So we really have to be honest,to ask God what we need,so if I am a politician or a leader or just like me an ordinary man,i’ll ask for wisdom,directions for courage,strenght so i can serve properly as a true leader would serve,and do my daily tasks and most especially for the grace to be able to pray and read and reflect daily on the WORD of God,to be my daily guidance in all i do for the day and for the rest of my life.We have so many groups now,lay communities with our Church and with our Bishop’s and Priest’s guidance,working and serving our people,God’s people.Napaka-rami pong may-sakit rin na,mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa,maraming nakaka-survive but marami ding hindi,at lagi ko ring naaalala ang mga kababayan diyan,yung walang pam-pagamot,yung wala ng matakbuhan,at tutuo talaga, lahat ay gagawin, pupuntahan,paniniwalaan,aasahang makapag-papagaling sa kanila…at yun salamat…sa biyaya,nakikita nila,sa mga ‘healing services ng mga Pari at Laiko na me gifts at ginagamit ng Panginoong Jesus, e tayong lahat sana e maging kaisa sa panalanging matamo ng mga kababayan natin ang kinakailangan nilang ‘healing’ at tayo rin e matamo ang biyaya ng mga ginagawang ito.Ang iba, po ay so blessed to be witnesses and i know in a way a part of the so many healings,
around us and all over the world,kahit na anong healing,maliit,malaki …at patuloy ang pasasalamat at, nagiging bahagi rin kahit paano sa pamamagitan ng mga patuloy at walang lagot na pagdarasal,para sa lahat ng mga nagre-request ng mga prayers,at kung minsan e mahirap paniwalaan ngunit nakatutuwa,lalo na’t babalik ang request,’at pasasalamat naman-”magaling na raw si ganon,si ganito” at wow,alam ko, namin kami man ay may natamong paghihilom din,biyaya.’At maraming banal at nagiging banal na talagang mga ka-Parian at mga iba pa at mga laiko,at ang dedikasyon nila,sa mga misyong nasa harapan nila,sa kabila ng ibat-ibang kultura at sa kabila ng mga balakid,sa buhay,sa pamilya,sa trabaho,sa panahon,sa lamig,…ngayon ay sobrang lamig na naman dito,at naaalala ko ng matindi ang mga kasama naming patuloy na naglilingkod,kahit na giniginaw at masakit ang katawan,at ang patuloy na pag-ooffer nila ng kanilang oras,salapi at talino,kaya’t sa mga pagkakataong hindi ako pwede ay dasal na lamang lagi para sa misyon ang aking nai-aalay.(magandang maipa-alam sa lahat lalo na sa atin ang mga karanasan naming mga kababayan ninyo,sa ibayong dagat at sana ay ito ay ‘healing’ na rin na alam kong dasal din ng mga dumadalo sa mga ‘healing sessions ni Fr.Fernando diyan,para sa akin at sa mga katulad kong laiko,tutuo,mapapa-isip ka,at tutuo ngayon ko tutuong at lolong nakikita at nauunawaan ang mga Obispo at kaParian sa tawag ng Diyos sa kanila.’Ipanalangin natin sila at tayo man na sana’y tutuong makapag-dasal tayo,maka-pagsisi at makapamuhay ng ayos upang matamo natin ang biyaya at maging lakas ng bawat isa,… ang ‘HEALING o hiling’ natin sa KANYA lalo na ang kailangan ng ating bayan at mamamayan,mga lider na tapat at tunay na may pagkalinga,malasakit at pagmamahal na tulad ng kay Jesus,yan ang lagi naming dasal din.At sa KRUS na pinasan niya para sa atin eme pag-asa at maniwala lagi tayo,…AHUNna po! ipasa sa KRUS sa Kanya,…laya na sa mga mali at hindi tamang mga gawain….”thank you Jesus!” Purihin ka magpasa-walang hanggan!!!”
January 31st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I’ve been living here in canada for almost 4yrs already and i don’t know about Fr. Suarez. I think his famous there in the Philippines because of economic situation there. Here he is not known because we have free medical.