Msgr. Buentiempo nagselebrar kompleanyo

Sarong dakulang urgolyo an sakong namatean kan ako naimbitaran sa selebrasyon kan kompleanyo kan satong kura paroko, si Msgr. Juan Buentiempo kan nakaaging Martes, Pebrero 27, 2007, sa kumbento kan parokya. Dakul na mga bisita an sakong naabotan: nagkapirang padi sa Caceres, mga parokyano kan Santa Ana, mga kaakian, asin mga kapamilya ni Monsigñor na maorogmang nakiselebrar.

Sa sakuyang paghiling, an satong Kura Paroko na naglingkod sa Parokya ni Sta. Ana nin haros 9 na taon na poon kan Oktubre 1998, sarong simpleng tao.

Istorya kan sarong padi, “Si Mamo (an apod ki Monsignor) ngonyan na sanang mga taon nagusto na magselebrar kan saiyang kompleanyo. Huli ta kan kami mga seminarista pa sana, amay kaming nagmamata para mag-mañanita saiya sa may pwertahan kan saiyang kwarto. Alagad naaaraman mi na mayo man palan siya sa laog.” Kan hinapot ko si Mamo kun tano ta siya minahale sa aldaw kan saiyang kompleanyo, siya nagsimbag, “Kun saimong kompleanyo, gabos na tawo nagsisibot, minagastos, para saimo. Ika an ‘star.’ Habo kong pagkasiributan.”

Alagad, sarong pagkakataon, sinabihan siya ni Bishop Balce, “Dai ka na magtago kun kaaldawan kan saimong kompleanyo. Let the people come and greet you. Ini an saindang paagi para makapagpasalamat sa saimo.” Saiya ining tinubod.

Nagka-igwa ako nin pagkakataon na maka-olay si “May Kikay” (Mrs. Francisca N. Belleza) nin nagkapirang minuto asin sakong naihapot an manongod sa kun ano kaidto an satong Kura Paroko.

Sabi ni May Kikay, “Kan aki pa si Juan (an apod saiya kan saiyang kapamilya), nagkapirang senyales an sakong nahiling na siya magpapadion. Arog kan paglaag nin katsa bilang saiyang sotana asin an pag-aktong padi na nagmimisa kun ini solo sana; an pag-ukit sa kahoy nin imahen kan mga santo; an pagsakristan niya asin an pagkanuod kan mga Latin na mga pamibion; asin orog kaini, an pagsabi niya, “Gusto ko na maging Padi.’”

Si Alejandro Juan N. Buentiempo (“Juan,” “Johnny,” “Good Time,” “Mamo”) namundag kan Pebrero 27, 1948 sa Napawon, Goa, Camarines Sur, ikaduwa sa apat na magturugang. Si Mamo nagtapos kan saiyang elementarya na sarong achiever sa Goa Elemetary School. Saiyang ipinadagos an High School sa Partido High School. Kan taon 1963, siya luminaog sa Seminaryo na pusog an paglaom sa kabotan asin pangataman nin Dios. Si Mamo inordinahan bilang padi kan Marso 24, 1974 digdi sa Arkidiocesis nin Caceres. Pagkatapos kan pag-orden, siya nagklase nin Civil Engineering sa University of Nueva Caceres.

Kabali sa saiyang mga nagin assignments bilang padi iyo an mga minasunod: Formator kan Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, assistant priest sa Basilica Minore, asin parish priest sa Caramoan asin Iriga City.

Kan kami nag-orolay-olay bago pa kan saiyang kompleanyo, sakuyang nahiling na an saiyang oro-aldaw na pagkabuhay minalipas arog man satong mga layko. Alagad, an saiyang personal na disiplina sa salud; an hilig niya sa pagbasa nin manlaen-laen na libro; an mga ataman asin pag-iriba niya sa kumbento; an saiyang dai-matawaran na engineering skills; asin orog nang gayo an saiyang kakaibang talento sa akrobatiko na iyo an tripod (an pagtindog na baliktad kun sain an payo niya nasa daga na nakapatong sa saiyang mga kamot) -- iyo an mga bagong bagay na sakong naaraman.

Sa saiyang mensahe sa programa kan saiyang kompleanyo, sinabi niya, “Naapreciar ko an birthday message na sinabi sako kan saro saindo, ‘Mamo, Thank you for the simple life.’” An simpleng pagkabuhay iyo an nangongorog na prinsipyo asin gawe kan saiyang pagkabuhay. Dagdag pa kaiyan sinabi niya, “Pinagmamawot ko na ako pirming yaon saindo digdi sa simbahan, digdi sa kumbento. Ini tanganing bilog na mapaglingkodan kamo. Yaon ako digdi tanganing masimbagan an saindong pangangaipohan.” Sinabi niya pa sa samong pag-orolay, “Para sako, the vow of poverty is availability – to be fully present to the persons whom you serve.”

Si Msgr. Johnny sarong ladawan nin simpleng surogoon nin Dios. An sinasabi sa ebanghelyo ni Lukas 5:4 na Duc in Altum (Put out into the deep) saiyang isinasabuhay sa paagui kan pagpararom kan simple alagad maogmang pagkabuhay na iyo an minataong inspirasyon sa saiyang mga parokyano.

Look at Jesus on the cross

Today, we are in the season of Lent and in preparation for the coming significant event in our country, the May 2007 Elections.

In his recent first of the series of Pastoral Reflections on Elections, the Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P. says, “Both Lent and the Elections bid us to engage into an act of examination.” After giving the Christian guide for examining one’s self in the sphere of relationships, the Archbishop invites the faithful for an examination in the level of society, particularly in the conduct of elections. He then gave specific qualifications of a good public official namely: Competence, Personal Integrity and Commitment to the Common Good. This serves as a clear consideration for the people in effecting good change for the country – examination of self and society.
But how do we start examining and renewing ourselves? How do we change our society? To whom shall we look up to as our model?

“Let us look at Christ pierced on the Cross!” the Holy Father, Benedict XVI strongly calls us in his message for Lent 2007. His Holiness dwelt on the theme of love fully expressed in his crucifixion and death. He says, “Let us direct our gaze in this time of penance and prayer at Christ Crucified who, dying on the cross, revealed fully for us the love of God… The response the Lord ardently desires of us is above all that we welcome his love and allow ourselves to be drawn to him… We need to respond to such love and devote ourselves to communicating it to others.”

Looking at “Christ pierced on the cross” (Jn. 19: 37) then is our source and model in examining and renewing ourselves and our society.

We live it by responding to the call of our dear Archbishop, “Let us examine the quality of our love… Let us repent; do penance, fast and give alms; let us offer sacrifices, for ourselves and for our country.
We live it by receiving the blessing of the Holy Father, “May Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic conversion to the love of Christ.”

The power of love and care

In 1992, the Holy Father John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. He said that this day shall be “a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church, and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ, who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind.” (Letter instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992, 3).

To realize and respond to the Holy Father’s call, in 2001, we started observing the said celebration in our parish. We looked for the sick and aged parishioners, visited them, brought the holy viaticum at their beds, heard their confessions and invited them for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the parish church.

Last year, February 11, we had around 150 aged persons who came to the parish church. We celebrated the Holy Mass, administer to them the sacrament of anointing of the sick, provided medical assistance, said to them a blessing, and invited them for a common meal.

Such celebration primarily aims at helping the sick and elderly face their situation in life. Pope Benedict XVI in his message for the 15th World Day of the Sick this year said, “Sickness brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation.” It may be difficult indeed for the aged and sick to endure life. But being sick is not just a burden to bear but an opportunity to offer our sufferings to Jesus. It can become a blessing. Addressing the sick, the Holy Father continues, “I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified… Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world. I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially in moments of suffering.”

This celebration is also a fitting opportunity in this month of love for the children and the young to express their love and service for the sick and the aged, not only to their own sick loved ones but to their neighbor in the parish as well. When this is done, a new seed of change is planted.

Finally, this makes us realize the inter-dependence of the children and the aged. While the children or the young give joy to the aged, the aged guide and inspire the young.

James Aury rightly puts it, “The power of love and caring can change the world.”

Oras asin Panahon: Regalo nin Diyos

Ngonyan na bagong taon, satong paghorop-horopan an kahalagahan kan oras o panahon, the value of time. Igwang sarong magayon na parabola* manungod sa pagsabat kan bagong taon.

Sa enot na aldaw, naglalang an Diyos nin damulag. Sabi niya, “Magduman ka sa daga kaibanan an parauma, bilog na aldaw ika masakit sa init kan saldang, magkakaigwang mga kalyo an saimong kamot asin bitis, asin matao kang gatas tanganing suportahan an saimong among, asin tatawan takang 60ng taon para mabuhay.”

An sabi kan damulag, “Masakit man na maray an buhay na iyan na gusto mo sako. Tawi akong 20ng taon sana, asin itatao ko saimo an tadang 40.” Asin nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikaduwang aldaw nilalang nin Diyos an ido. Sabi niya, “Magtukaw ka bilog na aldaw sa pwertahan kan saimong harong asin batokon mo an siisay man na maglaog o maki-agi. Tawan takang 20ng taon.” An sabi kan ido, “Halawigon na yan na panahon nin pagparabatok. Tawi ako nin 10ng taon, asin iuuli ko an tadang 10.” Asin nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikatolong aldaw, nilalang nin Diyos an kabalang. Sabi niya, “Paogmahon mo an mga tawo, maggibo ka nin mga monkey tricks, pangisihon mo sinda. Tawan takang 20ng taon nin buhay.” An sabi kan kabalang, “Boring naman yan monkey tricks sa 20ng taon? Binalik saimo kan ido an 10ng taon, iyo man iyan an gibohon ko, okay?” Nag-uyon an Diyos.

Sa ikaapat na aldaw nilalang nin Diyos an tawo. Sabi nin Diyos, “Magkakan ka, magturog, magkawat, mag-enjoy! Mayo kang ibang gigibohon kundi an magpasiram-siram sa buhay. Tawan takang 20ng taon.” An sabi kan tawo, “Ano? 20ng taon lang? Dae ko! Uya, akoon ko an 20, hagadon ko an hinaboan na 40 kan damulag, an 10 kan ido, asin an 10 pang hinaboan kan kabalang. Kaya bale 80 gabos, K?” “Deal!” uyon kan Diyos.

Kaya iyo iyan, sa enot na 20ng taon kita minakakan, minaturog, minakawat, asin nag-eenjoy sa buhay; sa sunod na 40ng taon minatrabaho kita sa irarum kan saldang tanganing suportahan an satong pamilya; sa sunod na 10ng taon gumigibo kita kan monkey tricks tanganing paogmahon an satong mga apo; asin sa huring 10ng taon minatukaw kita sa atubangan kan satong harong asin minabatok sa kun kiisay na mahiling!

Mga tugang, minapoon kita kan balaog nin bagong taon. Ini gikan sa satong Makakamhan na Diyos. Ano an ginigibo nyato sa satong oras asin panahon? Ano iyan uyon sa katuyuhan kan paglalang sa sato asin sa kabotan nin Kagurangnan? Sa anong kabtang ka na kan saimong panahon? Sa damulag, sa kabalang, sa ido? Ano an ginigibo mo?

Sinasabi na tinatawan kita nin mga 25,000ng aldaw para mabuhay. An iba kaini naubos na. Alagad, an Bagong Taon, pinapara an gabos na nakaagi asin minadolot nin nagliliwanag na 365ng aldaw. Ano, inaako mo ining dolot na ini? Ano an gigibohon mo sa saimong oras o panahon? Sabi kayan, “Masupog kamong magadan na mayo man lang na naginibohan!”

Lugod sa pagpoon nyato kan taon, pahalagahan nyato an satong oras asin panahon huli ta ini biyaya nin Diyos sa sato.

* See William J. Bausch, 40 More Seasonal Homilies. Mystic, CT: Twenty-third Puiblications, 2005, 17-18.