Fernando Suarez

Fr. Fernando Suarez, Santuario de San Vicente de Paul.

Father Fernando Suarez (born February 7, 1967) is a Filipino Catholic priest who performs faith healing in the Philippines and all over the world.^[1]

Early life

Fernando Suarez, was born in Barrio Butong, Taal, Batangas, Philippines on February 7, 1967 to a driver father and a seamstress mother. Being the eldest of 4 children (2 sisters and 1 brother), he graduated in public schools. At age 12, he earned a living by leasing inflatable boats at a beach to support his studies. Suarez earned a chemical engineering degree at the Adamson University, Manila.

After spending much of his life living and working in the Philippines, with a degree in chemical engineering, he came to Winnipeg, Canada in 1995. In Canada, he pursued his desire to become a Roman Catholic Priest, something he felt was a call from God. In 1997, he joined the Companions of the Cross in 1985 in Ottawa, Canada. Fernando was ordained a priest in 2002.

Priesthood

In 1997, Suarez applied to many Orders until he joined the Companions of the Cross. Suarez was ordained a Catholic priest at age 35.^[2] From 2002 to July 2003, Suarez served as the associate pastor of St. Timothy's parish in North York, Ontario. In 2011, Suarez left the Companions of the Cross and joined the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, under the leadership of Bishop-Prelate Antonio Palang who assigned Suarez to an impoverished community of Ilin Island (pronounced as Ilin, a barangay of Municipality of San Jose), located south of Occidental Mindoro island, as requested by Suarez.

He founded Mary Mother of the Poor-Healing Ministry or Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation (MMP) after he became a priest. He is supported through donations.^[3]

On December 10, 2007, the Junior Chamber International Philippines presented Suarez with an award for his religious service.^[4]

Mary Mother of the Poor

In 1996, while praying, Suarez believes he saw a vision. In the vision, Jesus was pouring out many graces and blessings upon him and as he received His graces and blessings, he saw multitudes of poor children begging for help. He did not understand the vision then, but its image remained in his heart. It was not until the summer of 1997, that the meaning of the vision became clear to him. During a two-week visit to the Philippines, at least ten poor children approached Fernando out of nowhere, asking for his support especially in their studies. Trusting in the Lord, he began sending money coming from his savings from giving recollections and retreats during his Christmas and summer holidays. This led Fernando to create his foundation, "Mary Mother of the Poor" (MMP). The foundation grew and became established.^[5]

MMP is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization of Catholic religious and lay persons in the US, Canada and the Philippines, founded by Suarez and Father Jeff Shannon.^[5]

Livelihood and Economic Projects

To further help the poor help themselves, MMP provides livelihood opportunities for them. This includes fish farming, handicrafts, and even a small power plant. They also provide seminars to teach people how to cook with more nutritious foods as well as creating products. This was held in Caloocan City.

Scholarship and Youth Evangelization

They are currently sponsoring one hundred twenty-three scholars (ranging from elementary to college) and six seminarians. MMP also provides spiritual support to the students and includes Mass, praise, dramatization and spiritual outreach.^[6]

Feeding Program

MMP is currently feeding more than 3000 malnourished children from five different schools: Pulot Apaya, Pulot Itaas, De La Paz Itaas, Ilihan and Pagkilatan. They provide lunch five days a week given by volunteer teachers and parents, primarily financed through donations.

Oratory of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Monte Maria

Suarez has announced he will attempt to build a shrine to the Blessed Virgin at Montemaria, in Batangas City.^[7] It will consist of a rosary garden, Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic, Adoration, Divine Mercy, Infant Jesus, Saint Joseph and Saint Mary chapels, Scala Sancta, a columbarium, retreat houses, campsites, lodging houses, conference center, international center for the poor, and a replica of the House of the Virgin Mary. On January 7, 2007 the ground was broken at the site, accompanied by a tall statue of Mary.^[8] The statue itself would be thirty-three stories high, which is even taller than the Statue of Liberty upon completion. The entire project was finalized and scheduled to begin in 2008. Contractors believe it could be done in two to four years.^[9] The statue is to be hand-made by sculptor Ed Castrillo,^[10][11] the Philippines’ most prolific builder of public monuments who celebrated his 40th year as a professional artist in 2006.

The world's tallest Marian statue would stand 110 meters, with 92.9 meters (or 204 feet) of that would consist of the statue of Mary. In his 2 hectare studio in Molino, Cavite, Castrillo said, the head, feet and hands are in cut-and-welded brass medium, while the body would be in stainless steel. The metal medium sculpture differed from Liberty, which is in soft concrete.^[12]

Healing ministry

Father Suarez says he discovered his gift of healing at the age of 16. According to Suarez, he saw a paralyzed 60-year-old beggar woman outside Quiapo Church. He asked if she wanted him to pray for her, just to console her. After one Hail Mary, one Our Father and one Glory Be, the woman stood up and walked, he said.^[13] Shocked and happy, she exclaimed that Suarez had healed her. Due to shock and disbelief, he ran away. He tried to keep this a secret for as long as he could. However, upon being ordained a priest, it became more evident to him that the gift of healing was not only meant for him, but to be shared with other people as well. Since then he has been traveling around the world celebrating healing Mass and praying with the sick.^[14]

On January 11, 2008, Manila Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales officiated the celebration of the Mass which started the 3-day, 40-hour vigil at Suarez' Batangas City Montemaria mega-shrine. Hundreds of devotees and the sick gathered.^[15]

Suarez, 44, announced his return to and resumption of healing in the Philippines on May, 2008.^[16]

God healed through Suarez, on July 21, 2008, in a 7-hour healing Mass at the Saint Joseph Community in Brussels, Belgium.^[17]

Suarez has his radio program, "Healing Grace with Fr. Fernando Suarez", aired over Radyo Veritas every Sunday night.

Controversy

On January 25, 2008, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), public affairs head and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. stated that while they are happy for Suarez, they will remain "watchful" of his healing Masses and activities. "Few people are given the special gift of healing, and Suarez is one of them. But church officials are still observant," Iñiguez said in a statement posted on the CBCP Web site Thursday night.^[18]

On January 26, 2008, 2 died and 7 were rushed (due to exhaustion) to James Gordon Hospital, Olongapo City while waiting for Suarez' healing Mass. Juanito Eleazar, 69, died of a heart attack amid more than 15,000 worshippers having lined-up.^[19]

In Mexico, Pampanga, 39-year-old colon cancer-stricken Alberto Tapnio died while in a wheelchair (and thereafter blessed by Suarez during a healing Mass). Tapnio was DOA (dead on arrival) at a hospital but was revived by electric shocks. Upon notice of the resurrection, the crowd of 20,000 people started clapping, praying and shouting, but Alberto died 4 hours later.^[20][21]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fernando Suarez.

• Fernando Suarez' website
• Mary Mother of the Poor official site