I feel sad because Among Rau has been a great pastor. I am always compelled to listen to his homilies even if sometimes I don’t agree (stand on RH Bill, naturally) because his stories and insights are always simple but meaningful, ordinary but inspiring. Sometimes, I even think he’s just making the anecdotes up (haha!) just to drive his points but I don’t really mind because they’re usually funny and relevant anyway. Overall, hearing mass with him as the celebrant always gives me a feeling of spiritual nourishment after. Our village was truly fortunate to have had him, if only for a short while.
Among Rau was quite the radical leader. We’ve never had a parish priest like him. To say that Among Rau and his idiosyncratic ways ruffled some traditionalist feathers in our parish scene is an understatement. In fact, it was too much for some that they preferred to lie low or take a break from their parochial service than deal with the massive changes.
This is something that is strange and disappointing for me. These are people that I’ve seen serving in our parish ever since its establishment. I have always admired them because they selfishly devote many hours in attending to their parish duties not only on Sundays but on other days of the week as well. One would think that it’s all because of their faith and personal relationship with God. But when they come across a priest who doesn’t let them have their way all the time, they suddenly stop serving? So what was the real purpose of their service to our parish then?
I’m not saying that Among Rau is infallible and he does not bear a single fault. Frankly, I am not privy to the details of their many issues because I’m not part of them. I only hear bits and pieces and more often than not, these bits and pieces are biased anyway. As they say, the most savvy gossip mongers in any community are the ones who serve at church, haha! It doesn’t help when you learn that these people are planning a “comeback” just because Among Rau is on his way out as if serving in the parish is some finite political position wherein alliances are often adjusted to forward one’s personal agenda. I’m sorry, but I find it to be really pretentious and self-righteous.
I decided to serve in ComLec 3 years ago because Mama has been bugging me for ages to do so and I finally gave in. I never relented though until I finally had my own personal reason to do so – I wanted to give back to Him. I’ve always wanted to be a song leader, but alas, I was not gifted with a great voice, haha! But I being able to read well was the next best thing for me. I serve in peace every weekend and I don’t really pay attention to the side line issues of other people. I don’t care if I get my way or not for as long as I know that what I’m doing or what I’m being asked to do will only serve to make our church activities more meaningful to our congregation.
Frankly, I’m mildly anxious about our new parish priest but only because I don’t know him and serving with a new priest will entail some adjustments on my part. I’ve grown accustomed to Among Rau’s personal quirks in his masses that I’m actually wondering if I still know the traditional ways, haha! But I know that no matter what happens, no matter who celebrates the mass, I will still look forward to attending my ComLec assignments. I serve for Him and not for everybody else. If it means I have to deal with people I don’t see eye to eye with, then I pray for patience and wisdom to know how to amicably deal with them and co-exist in our mutual service to our beloved parish.
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| ComLec with Among Rau last Easter (2013) |
Besides, my friends in ComLec are one of the best people I know. I find great value in maintaining a relationship with them, in and outside our church.
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| "Young" ComLec during our speech choir practices last Holy Week. It has become a tradition of some sorts and we've come to look forward to it because it's that time of the year when we get to spend the most time with each other. We almost always still hang out after practices. :) |
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