The Healer

We were privileged to host a healing Mass with Father Fernando Suarez, the Filipino priest blessed with the gift of healing. Organized by the Philippine Air Force through the efforts of Mrs. Ona, Fr. Suarez graciously accepted the invitation before his scheduled departure for Europe the next day.

People started coming in at 11 in the morning of October 16. By 3:30pm, the 1,800 seats of the shrine was almost full. All this time, the rosary was being prayed and Bishop Tumulak and Monsignor Cesar Salomon, rector of the Shrine, heard confession.

At around 4:10pm, the mass started. Fr. Suarez in his homily shared with us a conversation he had with HE Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales whom he calls "Lolo" over breakfast one morning. HE Cardinal Rosales reminded him, "Nando, your gift is for the people". True enough, Fr. Suarez has been sharing his gift of healing to countless persons all over the world.

He reminds us that he is no magician. This healing is not of his doing. He is just being used by God to cure what is not right in this world, what is not right in a person. All his "power" comes from God. He is but His humble servant.

After the mass, Fr. Jeff, Fr. Suarez's constant traveling companion took the floor and shared more testimonies from people who have been healed. In a few minutes, the healing ministry began.

People on wheelchairs lined up in front of the altar, followed by people seated on the pews. Row by row, they stood in front of the altar and waited for their turn to be touched by the Holy Spirit through Fr. Suarez. Stroke victims who couldn't walk started to walk after Fr. Suarez touched and prayed over them. Cancer victims shared their healing experiences right then and there. People fell on the floor after being prayed over.

There were so many sick people, so many people praying for improvement in their health, people hoping and praying for a miracle. There were some people on wheelchairs who seemed as if their sickness, their ailment had taken over their body. But they had faith, and if not them, then a family member or a relative still believed that the sick can be healed. Thus their reason for being there that afternoon at the Shrine.

Some were healed on the spot. Perhaps for others, it may take time. But for as long as there is faith, and there is hope, the healing power of God will never cease to work its way through our bodies, our hearts, our souls. We just have to let Him in.

As Father Suarez said, he is not the only healer in this world. You don't have to be 'special' or 'different' to be able to heal. All of us are called to be healers. When we pray for a person we love, we are healers. When we offer sacrifices for the healing of the sick, we are healers. When we LOVE, we HEAL.