A PORTRAIT OF FATHER "BOBBY"
By Nimia L. Lacebal
His ways were simple usually made alive with his smiles and intermittent controlled laughter. His thoughts were modest and unassuming peppered with humor. His spirits leaped with contagious sensitivity toward the needy, the distressed, and the un-enlightened. His heart was big, so big that it could hold all the cares that beset the Filipinos, in this ultra modern world of ours. Most of all, his heart bulged with pride over his apostolate programs, the Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompeii Church.
Father Bobby was pre-destined to become a priest. He was not aware of it. He did received a call, he said… “from who, how, and when”.. he didn’t knew. “all I could remember was… I was doing my task quietly …did what I have to do.”
He entered the Seminary at the age of 11. His high school years, under graduate and graduate studies gave him much “joy and satisfaction”. During his seminary days, he would not bear to be away from his beloved Seminary for a long time and wanted to go right back even his visits with his family and friends.
Of the 16 Seminarian classmates, only Father Booby made it to Ordination. In his early days as a priest, he developed into becoming a priest of the people. He visited villages after villages in Samar. He loved to be with the barrio people and talked with them about their life and about God to give them strength.
Divine Providence again was said to have plucked Father Bobby out from his quite hometown Catbalogan carried his across the Pacific and planted him in New York – for him to see the thousand of his Katbaloganons alone in a strange, desperate for solace, in need of God’s love.
The Migrant Scalabrini Fathers of the Society of St. Charles took Father Bobby in; give him the full support he needed to develop a Filipino immigrant apostolate program in its Shrine Church of Our Lady of Pompeii in Greenwich Village. Lower Manhattan.
Bursting with energy an enthusiasm, Father. Bobby launched the Filipino Pastoral Ministry in 1988, Not quite comprehensive and yet completely adequate enough to take care of the immigrant’ needs in a foreign country, the FPM began its mission.
The Filipino Pastoral Ministry became the hub of traditional socio-cultural and religious activities of the Filipino resident in the tri-state area. Father Booby’s vision of having a “Welcoming Church” for the Filipino in America when they could comfortably practice their religious traditional; preserve the Philippines rich heritage, have at last became a reality.
The Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompeii Church reached its 16 years of service to the community in 2003. Father Bobby dedication 38 years of his life in the service of God with intense passion. He worked on his vision and mission diligently: implementing its objective within the framework of the Ministry’s mission and goal.
As Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii Church, he won the heart of the Church’s majority parishioner. He delivered his homily with intensity and purpose. He drew over many Italian parishioners to come and join the Filipino Pastoral Ministry’s kainan and religious activities.
He created the Filipino Pastoral Council to guide him in his program. He achieved “unity” (to most was an impossible dream) among the different Santo Nino Prayer Group from the different boroughs of New York. He widely promoted the Good Samaritan Partnership in Mission program… reminding… “the next thing to having a priest in the family is to adopt one and to have your family in the heart of a priest…”
He initiated “Mga Happening sa Village”... the Wednesday novenas of our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Flores de Mayo, the Santa Crusan and many others. He remembered to help the underprivileged, the victim of natural disaster and the needy Seminary students in the Philippines. Most of all he showed love for his Katbaloganon”
He could not be stopped. He did not want to stop. To him the Filipino Pastoral Ministry at its 16th year of community’s services is. “Still young… still searching for a more meaningful and fuller expression of the mission and vision...although its step are unfaltering, it still has a long way to go to achieve to objectives. The cultural, religious and educational needs of the Filipinos is the reason for its being…” He once asked. “What do we want to do 10 years from now?”
Father Bobby was not lacking in benefactors and volunteers for his projects. In his graciousness, he carried a high regard for all of them and was appreciative for all the things they have done for him. Feeling grateful, he has the following to say… “how can I stop singing praise of gratitude to the Lord for the wonder, He has done for us. I could only bow down in prayer and in the silence of my heart “gracias”. “Maraming Salamat”, “Thank You”.
“I can only promise you my prayer, Rest assured that God who sent His Son can never be outdone in Charity. He will reward you a thousand fold”
To his beloved volunteers… he said the following touching words:
“Whatever little bit any one does, certainly makes a difference to the person at hand. In God’s overall plan, each of us is important and each of us make a difference to one or another person... along the way.”
Father Bobby was always full of hope.
In 1988 he had this message… “Let us join hand in strengthening our identity as Filipinos. In due time, we should be able to accomplish our objective toward a more unified Community with one God and one Faith as Christian Filipinos.
“Together we can make bigger strides in our Ministry.”
<p>He dreamt and hoped that “whatever we have at Pompeii will be the beginning of many apostolate in the Easter Seaboard…”
“together, as we approach 1990, we say thanks for all that has been. He looks with Faith and Hoped of what is to come”.
Father Bobby dutifully, left us when the Lord called for him. He left a void at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, definitely a larger void in the heart of all those he had helped, his benefactors and volunteers. His spirit will always be they’re watching over the Filipinos Pastoral Ministry as it continues to work its way for another milestone.
Father Bobby Sison the people’s priest left a legacy of love of God and of one another and service.
****Nimia L. Lacebal was the Former Coordinator of External Affairs, Filipino Pastoral Ministry and former Editor-in-Chief, The FPM Pastoral Network. She was one of the notable volunteers who helped Father Bobby Sison in the early days of the Filipino Pastoral Ministry..