Despedida for Fr. Danny Huang, SJ

I feel honored for having been invited to a despedida dinner for Fr. Danny Huang, SJ last Thursday, October 16. It was no less than Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ (he whom they call the "Dean of Asian Theologians") who invited me through Fr. Albert Flores. I was hesitant at first and told Fr. Albert "baka ma-out of place ako" when I found out that only the four of us will be there. But then again I thought, it was a despedida dinner for a good friend, not an oral exam in Theology. So off we went to Ha Yuan Restaurant along Mother Ignacia St. in QC. The owners of the restaurant, who are close friends of Fr. Revs, personally prepared the sumptuous dinner we had.

Fr. Danny has been my friend since I was in San Jose Seminary. To be exact, since the second semester of school year 1997-1998. Although I have known him since 1996 when he moved in to San Jose, truth be told that we didn't start off well. Before my ordination he admitted that he thought I was "masungit" when he first saw me. Thanks to our common friend, Fr. Albert, who bridged the "gap." Every time he will invite Fr. Albert to eat outside or watch a movie, Fr. Albert will bring me along. And so by the start of the second semester of my third year in theology, Fr. Danny and I were already good friends. When Fr. Albert left for Rome, Fr. Danny was left with "no choice" other than me and my good friends Fr. Ryan Tevez and Fr. Randy Odchigue, among others. So many fond memories...


I remember after my ordination in 1999, he organized a group of seminarians to come with us as I moved in to my first ever assignment as a priest in Paco, Manila. I was so moved by the gesture. Up to now, wala akong maalala na naghatid ang mga Josefino sa first assignment ng isa sa mga kapatid nila. We attend ordinations, yes. Pero yung sasamahan at ihahatid sa unang assignment, parang wala pa kong narinig na ganon. ( By the way, we always remember each other every March 15 -- my ordination anniversary, his birthday).

He never ceases to inspire and touch my life by his mere presence and support. When I was installed as parish priest of Comembo, he was also present. He saw the humble beginnings of this parish and helped me out for as much as he could ... saying novena masses, giving recollections, giving talks to our parish leaders, and of course, always reserving a Simbang Gabi for us. Come December, we will surely miss him and his inspiring homilies.

So what was the despedida for? After holding key positions in the Society of Jesus (Rector of San Jose, Provincial of the Society), Fr. Danny has been elected as one of the Regional Assistants of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Let me quote some parts of his blog which I copied without permission from his multiply account:

"This morning, after prayers in the Aula together, Fr. General Adolfo Nicolas announced the names of nine Jesuits who would form the core of his General Council. Each of the nine was assigned as a Regional Assistant: that is to say, each would help Fr. General in his governance of a specific geographic region of the Society of Jesus (called an “Assistancy,” in Jesuit jargon). Each would also be a General Counselor, that is, someone who would help Fr. General in his supervision and care over the whole Society. Fr. General appointed me one of his General Counselors, and Regional Assistant for East Asia and Oceania. This Assistancy covers the Provinces of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia, the regions of Malaysia-Singapore, Thailand, Micronesia, and East Timor, and the missions of Myanmar and Cambodia. As Regional Assistant, I will have to visit the men and our apostolates in this area; help Fr. General with the requests, reports and other correspondence that come from the region; give him the advice he needs on decisions that will have to be made, on personnel, houses, communities, finances, ministries, and the like. As General Counselor, I am supposed to “collaborate with the General” and his other counselors, on policies, decisions, and implementation of those decisions, concerning the universal Society... 

...After Mass this evening, I laughed when a smiling American Jesuit came up to me and said, “Had a life-transforming day today, have you?” In truth, however, I have found myself remarkably strengthened by the kind responses of my brother Jesuits here in Rome. It was funny to walk down the corridor this evening and hear the venerable Fr. Jacques Gellard, Assistant ad Providentiam and Admonitor of Fr. Kolvenbach, greet me, with a kind of benevolent amusement in his voice: “Good evening, Fr. Assistant.” So many brother Jesuits here, from so many different countries, have expressed good wishes and promised prayers, and I have been deeply touched by the sincerity and brotherhood behind their words. I was very moved too by a few, including some I respect very much, surprising me by saying: “I am very happy that you are part of the Council."

People close to Fr. Danny have mixed emotions about his new assignment for he will be based in Rome starting end of this month. It is a seeming loss for the Church of the Philippines especially for the Philippine Province of the Jesuits. And yet we are also happy that his brilliance will be shared to a wider and bigger "community." For that we can only congratulate him and offer our prayers for him.

Fr. Albert told me it was Fr. Danny who personally requested that I join them for dinner last Thursday. I feel flattered. Not everybody gets to be invited by a Jesuit Regional Assistant to dinner (together with the Dean of Asian Theologians). I was asking Fr. Albert if I had to be formal before Fr. Danny and if I had to start calling him Fr. Huang instead. But when he stood up and embraced me as I approached the dinner table, I knew it was still my good old friend...

Good luck Fr. Assistant.  Comembo will miss you. Rest assured of our prayers.