I call Betchai our assistant chaplain, because she is Fr. Arnold's alter-ego. Well, she, the assistant chaplain called me up this morning, to inform me of the cue on which part of the program, I'm supposed to give my testimony. Naturally, my initial reaction was to refuse and to suggest names of others who are more worthy of giving one on this very important occasion. Yeah, I heard Fr. Arnold say not to ask me to speak last Friday, as I'm reserved for another occasion. I took it as a joke, and his means to wake me up, because he saw how sleepy I was, while he was teaching us how to pray. Sorry, Fr. tao lamang po, senior citizen pa!
As I sat before my laptop, I tried so hard to think of names, even invoked the Holy Spirit to dictate to me whom to suggest. What came into my mind, was to compare the lightness of this assignment to the daunting task ahead of our chaplain, in his new parish. So here I am, asking for you indulgence to listen to my testimony.
When I saw the Mac Arthur church during our pilgrimage, I knew Fr. Arnold would transform that church into one befitting the Lord, and one where the parishioners from the 31 barangays of that town, would be most happy to flock to on days of worship and camaraderie events. It's so easy to foresee how he will perform there, because we saw how he served, loved, improved and made "miracles" in our chaplaincy, in the very short time that he was assigned here.
I still recall his first dinner with our family. It was then that I told him of my secret wishes for the chaplaincy. One was to have the etched -glass stations of the cross framed and lighted from behind. The other one was to be able to publish a fiesta souvenir program, which we never had before. He okayed those proposals, but since I hardly knew him then, I thought he was just trying to please me, and would forget all about it in time. Oh, my God, he didn't forget, and in fact commissioned Bobby Fuentes to work on the stations of the cross right away. Next thing I knew, he asked the Ladies Club to help him, set up the Singing Priests' Concert, which benefited not only the seminary, but our chapel as well. Out of the proceeds, he was able to buy a quality sound system for our use. He asked us again to help him prepare the very first and hopefully not the last, Lide Fiesta Souvenir Program. I held on to that dream for quite a long time, so Fr. Arnold was a God-sent to make that dream of a souvenir program come true.
I am privy to how his former parishioners in Ormoc and Ipil love and respect him. He is like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, because people whose lives he touched before would follow him wherever he's assigned. Siguro the same thing would happen to us. MacArthur, here we come.
Fr. Arnold knows how to love and discipline people at the same time. Like a true shepherd, he would let us know when our behavior or actions are good, and just as quickly and honestly tell us when they are not. I'm so glad that for his best effort, he was able to change our attitude. From that of relying solely on the companies to improve the chapel facilities, to one in which we all tried to give our share in every endeavor.
Although he worked so hard on our spirituality, he employed many strategies to improve our social life, too. Now I realize that the many potlucks, field trips, joke and singing times, were his ways of making us have better and effective communication with one another. Being the most-traveled person that he is, we enjoyed stories of his travel, and learned vicariously from them. He always highlighted them with stories of churches and places of worship that he has visited.
Although he sings, I'd rather call him the architect/artist priest. Look at how he landscaped the chapel grotto and gardens, the repainting of the chapel, the statue of St. Joseph the Worker infront, the new kitchen and receiving room and most notably - the new pastoral hall. He has so many plans for our chaplaincy and our chapel, but like the true servant of the Lord, he bowed to the plan of the Master Planner of All. When he announced his transfer, he told us that he has a duty to help the Archbishop in any way he can and not to add to his many problems. And that in his priestly life, the Lord's will will always be done.
Surely we will miss him. And him us, right Father? To quote him again : Thy will be done.
We thank the Lord for lending us Rev. Fr. Arnold M. Aurillo for 2 years and 8 months. The people of Ipil shared him with us. Now, it's our turn to share him with the people of Mac Arthur town.
Thank you, Fr. Arnold, for everything!
( My testimony during the blessing of the new Lide Pastoral Hall and Despedida for Fr. Arnold M. Aurillo)
