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Let’s leave the protests and the water cannons to other columnists. Today, let us share with you a heart-warming report on the 75th celebration of a loved priest who has served his parishioners well.
Before the late Jaime Cardinal Sin bequeathed to his priests a retirement home and a monthly pension package for their years of service to the flock, secular diocesan priests, unlike their brothers in various religious orders were at the mercy of their relatives or generous ex-parishioners when they retired.
They have no security of tenure, no fixed income, nor retirement benefits since they don’t belong to any pension programs like the GSIS or the SSS. Some retire without their flock knowing it and they fade in the horizon without a "thank you" or a commemorative wrist watch or plaque.
Well, the parishioners of progressive Christ the King parish in Green Meadows, QC are different. They appreciate their priests and they show their sentiments too.
Let me give way to the enthusiastic reporting of a faithful parishioner, Susan Reyes-Grau who lives in Valle Verde, on the touching birthday and despedida bash given for Fr. Francisco "Frank" Johnson Gomez who turned 75 and retired from the parish last Sept. 9.
It warms the cockles of my heart to know that people need people and they show their love!
"Honoring Fr. Gomez involved weeks of hectic preparations for involved parishioners from Libis, Green Meadows, St. Ignatius, White Plans.
It started with mass at 6 p.m. with the celebrant and Bishops Honesto Ongchoco, Msgr. Jaime Mora and a retired bishop from Aklan, Bishop Raul Martinez. Mora was the former parish priest and Ongchoco recently replaced him.
Fr. Franck, a patient father confessor who always had a kind word for his parishioners and never tired of hearing their confessions was born in Naga City. His parents were Dr. Francisco Gomez and Consuelo Johnson. His younger siblings were Dr. Antonio Gomez, a neurosurgeon in the US, Ramon and the late Joey.
He finished his liberal arts in Ateneo de Naga, major in English and took two years of philosophy and arts in UST. He had late calling to the priesthood but pursued it despite all odds and entered the San Jose Seminary in his late 30s.
At age 40 he was ordained by no less than the late Pope Paul VI at the Luneta with his parents, his brothers Joey and Monching and his wife Minda in attendance.
His ordination date was also very propitious as it fell on Nov. 28, 1979, which was also the wedding anniversary of Dr. and Mrs. Gomez. What a memorable wedding anniversary for Fr. Frank’s parents!
He was the typical diocesan priest in Naga City for five years after his ordination then spent the next 18 years as chaplain of the Araneta University in Caloocan.
He moved to St. Peter and John in Portero for four years and then found his new assignment in the Pandacan’s Sto. Niño parish.
But the oil fume of the nearby Shell depot made him ill.
Msgr. Mora gladly welcomed him to serve in the Christ the King parish, then fast-growing and very progressive.
On the night of the celebration, the CTK social hall was gaily decorated under the able supervision of Parish Pastoral Council head, Peter Bautista.
It was indeed a happy and festive venue for the songs and dances presented by the parishioners and even Bishop Nes who sang solo!
Bishop Nes’ down-to-earth ways like animatedly saying mass never fails to inspire his flock. That might, he gamely wore a red T-shirt to be among his parishioners who performed for Fr. Frank.
The first honoring was a dance led by Dr. Luz Corpus of the St. Ignatius Parish. Fr. Frank never tired of saying daily masses there and anointing the sick parishioners with his favorite "sidekick", Dr. Cinco.
Among the performers were Gene Lopez, Marife Reyes, Norma Cinco, Eden Almirez, Bingle Custodio, Lydia Antonio, Gene Villanueva, Cream Teano, Bibet Rosales, Myrna Delena.
Sammy Samson and Manny de Leon, chancellor of the Knights of Columbus gave touching tributes followed by a cha-cha number presented by the White Plains Ladies club with Rowena Eusebio, Lina Navarro, Nini Ramos, Noy Ramos, Web de Leon.
A boogie number was then presented with Polymedic’s Dr. Tony Tan doing a smashing Elvis Presley impersonation.
Dancers were Peter Bautista, Dolly Borlongan, Mr. and Mrs. Mario Reyes and Ellen Chua.
Msgr. Mora came all the way from his retirement in Cavite to tell Fr. Frank that there is life after serving and that Fr. Frank would surely enjoys his retirement years like him.
Msgr. Mora is credited for what the CTK parish is today — progressive, beautiful and with additional mortuaries which are enequaled in size and prices in the entire Metro Manila area!
Not to be outdone was the group of the Apostleship of Prayer group who rendered a beautiful "Cielito Lindo" song number and the last number was a pantomime number by Lagrimas Galang.
The night was capped by a short response from Fr. Frank’s younger brother Dr. Tony, all the way from his base in Burlington, Vermont.
He expressed his family’s sincere appreciation for the love and care of the parishioners for Fr. Frank, which he admitted was totally unexpected.
The honoree also said his "pasasalamats" in his own witty and droll way.
The retiree has two options, either at the parish of the Immaculate Conception parish in Project 8 or the Cardinal Sin Home in Sampaloc. This will be his decision.
However, the different parish organizations have petitioned Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales to keep him with them in the CTK church.
No response yet from the arzobispo. Emcee for the night was Raymond, the eldest son of Lito and Denny Samson.
