Viriditas: Father John Fredy Quintero

Dios, esta aqui con nosotros*

There was a time when I wanted to give up saying Masses in English and doing hospital visitations. Being from Colombia, Latin America, English is not my first language. I was so afraid of not being able to fulfill my responsibilities well in English. However, over time I realized that I am only an instrument of God. As I chose for the motto during my ordination “Hemos conocido el amor de Dios y hemos creido en el.” “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16)

My first experience with an English Sunday Mass took place when I was assigned to St. Michael Church in Kona. It was literally earth-shaking as on that day, as I greeted the people with outstretched arms, an earthquake hit the Big Island damaging the church. Was God trying to send me a message? The pastor had gone to California and left me alone in charge of the parish. I was already nervous due to the large tourist population. My comfort level was definitely different from weekday Masses where the people already knew and accepted me. I followed the people as they ran out of the church. We instantly bonded and finished Mass outside.

That incident was followed by a phone call the pastor received from the hospital asking for a priest. He asked me to go. I had visited the hospital before. Many times I found people alone in their rooms, dying, with just the TV on. It was sad, but easier for me when no one was around. “God,” I commenced my prayers, “you understand all languages.” I would then continue in Spanish.

This time however, when I reached the emergency room I was surprised to see many doctors and nurses working on a little girl. At that moment I felt really uncomfortable due to my English. Turning to me, a doctor said, “Father, do your job.” I began reading out of the prayer book, but when I came to the part where it said, “forgive the crimes and sins,” I had to stop. How could this young girl have committed any crimes or sins? I closed the book and for lack of other words, started saying, “God, you are here among us.” “Dios esta aqui con nosotros.”

At some moment, I opened my eyes and I saw the doctors and nurses with their eyes closed repeating the same, “God you are here among us.” We kept on praying, until one doctor quietly pronounced, “She is no longer with us.” As I left the hospital, I felt that I had done a horrible job. They needed a priest with the English language to say good things which I couldn’t express. I said I will talk to my pastor and not go to the hospital anymore, or say Masses in English.

Later however, the family requested me to do the funeral. They felt I did a wonderful job, that I offered a beautiful prayer. I realized then, that I was only an instrument of God and God does the rest as much as I keep believing in the love God has for us. Dios esta aqui con nosotros.

*God, you are here among us