Father John Phalen, yesterday and today.

I met and knew Father John Phalen through Grandknight Jim and the late PGK John. It has been almost 5 years now, since I met Father John.
It was 2008 when I met Father John. I instantly felt the connection to Father John because of his work in the Philippines. Father John P. is not only a priest but a natural leader. His leadership style is (my experience) the result of that Christ like influence on every Christians whether Catholic or Protestants or other Christian sects or groups. I felt the love that Jesus Christ taught and that "Love" that became an enduring legacy and meaning of Christianity - through the likes of Father John, it is manifested. I never physically met Jesus Christ but I met the result of that influence of Christ to people like Father Phalen, Mother Theresa and many other Catholic leaders including the late Blessed John Paul. Blessed John Paul visited the Philippines twice during my residence in the Philippines. I cherished my meeting with Blessed John Paul and Mother Theresa in my short lifetime. Meeting Father John Phalen felt like meeting and interacting with a saint in the making. We have experienced great challenges inside the Catholic Church. The tribulations we endured made as stronger and better as Catholics. The economic crisis that challenged many religions and faith is nothing compared with the thought of losing your faith in God and our mother church, The Roman Catholic Church. We will continue to support our chaplain, Father John Phalen because he symbolized that catholic faith that survived wars, litigations, and division among catholics, with our theology and direction in a historical juncture we cannot exist as a strong fraternity with out the counsel of Father John Phalen ! We love you Father John Phalen. The Braintree Council 1462 thank you for your services.

Rodolfo Panizales