Clergy congress a ‘Pentecost’ experience, priest says

MANILA, Jan. 27, 2010—The spiritual gathering of priests currently being held at World Trade Center is a “Pentecostal” experience not only for the clergy but for the entire Church, a participating priest in the ecclesial event said.

Fr. Joey Faller, a priest famous for his healing ministry said “the gathering is already an inspiration for us to go on our journey with the Holy Spirit guiding the Church.”

“[It is] very exciting to see 5,500 or so priests gathered solely to pray, celebrating the Eucharist, reciting the Holy Rosary and going to confessions and observing the Holy Hour,” Faller said.

The rector of the famous healing center Kamay ni Jesus in Lucban, Quezon said it is really inspiring and encouraging for the clergy to journey together and feel the presence of God during the five-day event.

He said the congress gave them the chance to realize deeply that it is only through the grace of God that they are able to minister and share his love to people.

Faller said people come to them for healing because they want to feel the love of God.
That alone, he said, is already a manifestation that “we are being asked to be faithful to our priesthood.”

According to the healing priest from the Diocese of Lucena, the biggest challenge in their ministry is to remain loyal to their priesthood, stressing that “it is never easy to be a priest.”

“It takes a priest to understand his fellow priest,” Faller said, referring to the confessions held later today.

He also asked for prayers and understanding from the laity to help them do their mission well.
Meanwhile, Fr. Fernando Suarez of the Companions of the Cross, also known for his gift of healing, said he was very inspired to see over 5,000 of his fellow priests in one gathering.

This only shows that priests draw inspiration in being together, he said in a separate interview with CBCPNews.

He said the greatest challenge for priests is how to be sensitive and relevant and make people listen, attract and influence them to go back to God.

Suarez made it clear that the healings he and fellow priests do become possible only because of God’s love.

“This is an opportunity to share God’s gift of healing and touch the lives of people. My only role [here] is to let [people] know that the healing presence of God is very much available through the Eucharist,” he said.

Suarez said he never gets tired of attending to the sick because he is inspired.
“The important thing is to do the will of God; that will bring you fulfillment,” he quipped.

(Melo M. Acuna)