Thursday, May 08, 2008 Fr. Suarez to return this month
CONTROVERSIAL healing priest, Fr. Fernando Suarez, is set to come back in the country this month from Canada, where he is officially based.
According to Sr. Gemma Ria Dela Cruz, Suarez, 40, will be arriving anytime this month. She said the healing priest is set to hold a healing mass for the listeners of “Kapanalig” program under Veritas 846–Radyo Totoo in July.
However, dela Cruz said the date of the healing mass will be discussed after the priest arrives in the country.
December of last year and January of this year, the healing ministry of Suarez drew huge crowd whenever he holds healing masses in different areas of the country.
The church recognizes that there are gifted individuals who have received special charisms. It also suggests that healing is also possible through the prayers of any priest or bishop.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not bothered by the priest’s healing session as they have yet to issue a statement on Suarez’s healing powers.
Suarez, who is a native of Batangas, graduated from Adamson University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He went to Canada, and pursued his vocation in 1995.
Two years after, he joined the religious community, Companions of the Cross. In 2002 he was ordained a priest.
While in Canada, Suarez formed a charitable organization called the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation. The foundation supports thousands of poor Filipinos through scholarships, feeding programs, medical missions, and housing projects including building of a healing complex and a Marian shrine in Batangas Province.
His healing masses in several provinces did not push through, as the bishops opposed it for his failure to seek permission from the heads of the local dioceses.
The prelates said Suarez violated the part of the instruction that states "explicit permission of the bishop must be given in order to have a prayer session or healing session" in the diocese.
Church guidelines remind those directing healing services to maintain "a climate of peaceful devotion in the assembly and to exercise the necessary prudence." (FP/Sunnex)
