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.”
Loading ...
February 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Always Catholic,
plsdo researh
please AB Cruz, how much donation he receives from thunderbird casino at poro point? and if he issues a receipt for cash received? ask B Olivares how much he got from erap and jueteng lords for his projects and if there was a receipt issued. were funds pocketed?
background of fr suarez with diocese of winnipeg (been there, boring and lonely)
Going to the seminary was not an immediate option. Suarez went to Manila and graduated with a chemical engineering degree at Adamson University which is run by the Vincentian Fathers.
Mary appears
After college, Suarez entered the Franciscan Order (Conventuals). “After one-and-a-half years, I left. Then I joined the SVD (Society of the Divine Word) but I was asked to leave after six months.”
It was there, at the SVD Christ the King Seminary that, Suarez says, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. “She told me that I would go to a far away place which was cold and windy, and there proclaim the word of God.”
Suarez was in his late 20s when he met a French-Canadian student and tourist named Mark Morin who invited him to Canada and even paid for his fare. They could have been partners in a business venture but Suarez wanted to pursue the priesthood. That was 1996.
He again tried the Diocese of Winnipeg to study as a diocesan priest but again, it did not work out and he was made to leave.
“I was an expensive venture, they said,” he says, chuckling. “They’d have to spend four-and-a-half years on me.” They preferred already ordained Filipino diocesan priests who were seeking a life abroad.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:48 am
STATEMENT OF CLARIFICATION
REGARDING THE HEALING MINISTRY OF FR. FERNANDO SUAREZ
Companions of the Cross – February 6, 2008
We have received several questions about the healing ministry of Fr. Fernando Suarez, CC.
Several news agencies have recently run articles about his ministry. In order to address the
questions and concerns that have been raised, we would like to make the following clarifications:
1) Fr. Fernando Suarez is a member of the Companions of the Cross. He is a priest in good
standing with priestly faculties from the Archdiocese of Ottawa. He has been assigned
by the Companions of the Cross to work for Mary, Mother of the Poor, a charitable
organization based in the Philippines which is dedicated to serving the poor. Fr.
Fernando often preaches missions and celebrates Masses followed by prayers for
healing.
2) The Companions of the Cross have a deep love and respect for the authority of the
Catholic Church. We endeavor to minister in complete obedience to the Church’s
teaching and in union with the local bishops in all matters. As a community, “we are
determined to think with the Church and to be loyal to the Magisterium” (Constitutions
and Rules of the Companions of the Cross, C25).
3) Recently two bishops have noted that Masses with prayers for healing were conducted
in their dioceses without their approval. We deeply regret this. It is always our intention
to act with the blessing and explicit approval of the local Bishop. In these cases, there
was an unfortunate miscommunication. It was understood that the local organizers of
these events had already secured the necessary permission. Unfortunately, this was not
the case. Letters of apology have been sent to both bishops.
To insure that this never happens again, a policy has been established whereby the local
Bishop’s written permission must be received by Mary, Mother of the Poor prior to the
confirmation and publication of any future events. This policy, already in effect in
North America, takes effect immediately in the Philippines and elsewhere.
4) Fr. Fernando Suarez, and all priests of the Companions of the Cross, are careful to
comply with the Church’s Instruction on Prayers for Healing issued by the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2000.
In keeping with this instruction, we make every attempt to ensure that “anything
resembling hysteria, artificiality, theatricality or sensationalism” does not take place (cf.
Instruction on Prayers for Healing, Disciplinary Norms, art 5, sec 3).
5) In accord with the teaching of the Church, we believe that “[p]rayer for the restoration
of health is… part of the Church’s experience in every age, including our own.”
(Instruction on Prayers for Healing, Introduction). We delight that the Lord continues
to bring consolation to the sick and suffering through prayers for healing. However, we
leave it entirely to the competent authorities to confirm or deny claims of miraculous
healing. It is the local Bishop, in consultation with medical experts, who makes such a
determination.
6) Mary, Mother of the Poor often distributes religious articles, such as rosaries handmade
by the poor, at their events. This is a concrete manner through which the poor
contribute to the work of the apostolate. Donations are accepted for these articles with
the permission of local pastors and event organizers.
While we encourage true devotion to our Lady, especially through the prayer of the
rosary, we caution the faithful against any superstitious claims made about these or any
religious articles. When blessed by the Church, God can indeed use such articles as an
instrument of healing in our lives, but these graces come solely from Christ through the
blessing of the Church and our faith in the Lord.
We apologize for any misunderstandings and hope that this explanation provides clarity to those
with concerns. It is our fervent desire to serve the good of the Church and regret anything that
would bring disunity or confusion to God’s people. Above all we desire to facilitate a deeper
knowledge and love of the Lord in the fullness of truth taught by His Holy Catholic Church.
For Further Reference
Instruction on Prayers for Healing, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2000
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_2000112
3_istruzione_en.html
Catechism of the Catholic Church, par 1500-1510, especially 1506.
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 2001. See Sacramentals, par 272-273.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_2002051
3_vers-direttorio_en.html
February 7th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Magkaiba ang Faith Healing at healing na nanggaling sa Diyos; actually if you a true beleiving Christian the Bible is the revealed will of God. In Isaiah53:5/1Peter2:24 God said, by His stripes we are healed, it means he gives the authority to pray for healing. in James 5:14-15 pray for the sick & afflicted and they shall recover. Ngunit ang tunay na beleiver ay priority niya ay mag-hayag ng Gospel of God not only healing. So it is not the will of God ang kay Fr. Suarez that’s Jesus said in Mat7:21-23who can enter the K of God who do the will of the Father,not everyone that said to me,LordLord. God bless!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Lighten up folks. Not to douse gasoline on an ember, but I wonder why even the Bishops are worried about Fr. Fernando Suarez. If there is nothing doubtful about Fr. Suarez why then it is that the Bishops in their Catholic wisdom are not too keen about this healing business. Is it envy or something else?
Here is the Bishops reaction to Fr. Suarez healing practices:
“Malolos, Bulacan Bishop Jose Oliveros announced the filing of a complaint with the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith against Fr. Suarez for healing at the Marilao Divine Mercy Shrine without permission.[13] Oliveros spoke at a press conference after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Plenary Assembly, and stated that he would also complain to Suarez’s Companions of the Cross superiors.[14] Oliveros further accused Suarez of violating paragraph 4 of Section 2, “Instruction on Healing Activities of the Doctrine of Faith”, signed by Pope Benedict XVI.[15]”
Instead of encouraging the healing priest to continue his ministry, why are the Bishops filing a complain against this priest? There must be something that we do not know for sure.
Could you blame me for voicing my doubt?
I will stand corrected if I am wrong.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am
you have to know the background of this person before we can tell he’s really authentic.. his background is booming so loud with crookedness! Just ask the authorities from the Diocese of Winnipeg.