‘Holy Kicks’
Many years ago, I befriended a lady named Imelda Paez. She was a merry widow, gregarious and talkative. She always arrived in our store in a color-coordinated outfit. If her dress was blue, expect that her bag, shoes, shawl,
abaca fan and even her eye shadow would also be blue. I enjoyed attending to her as she always had interesting stories to share.
She raised five children, namely Isabelle, Jojo, Dennis, Philip and Patrick. She enjoyed talking about them. In particular, I was fascinated by Dennis, who entered the seminary to become a Salesian priest. Long before her youngest son was ordained, she had already promised all her dearest friends, us included, that he would say Mass for them. So Father Dennis became one of the busiest priests in Metro Manila, obediently fulfilling his mother’s wishes.
He said Mass for our late mom when she had cancer and concelebrated Mass during my youngest sister Yvonne’s wedding.
“He is extremely gifted in delivering the word of God, making it come alive through his homilies,” says my husband Benny, who enjoys attending his Masses, talks and recollections. When his Mommy Imelda passed away, Father Dennis said the most beautiful Masses as we bid her goodbye to her heavenly destination. She was a truly special lady loved by so many for the kindness she showed to everyone around her. To this day, Father Dennis continues to share loads of funny memories about her.
Father Dennis serves in Don Bosco. He continues to be in demand as a retreat master, a speaker, a psychologist who has helped many couples, teenagers, families and troubled souls.
“Choose to be kind. Friends should be family and families should be friends. Most importantly, husband and wife should be good friends.” These are his constant reminders.
This lively priest is brimming with wisdom, good humor and practical advice, which he is ever so willing to share. His artistic nature has borne much fruit. He fashioned icons (religious works of art) and after learning the artistic techniques to produce them, he encouraged his Don Bosco boys to create such beautiful ones. He sells them in the Don Bosco store at reasonable prices in order to augment their school and living expenses. His students also produce unique belens, artistic crosses and lovely gift items perfect for birthday, anniversary and wedding give aways.
He has a special devotion to our Blessed Mother and loves to talk about her. Last year, he wrote and produced a very successful show called Sanctissima, which is about the miracles done by the Blessed Mother in the lives of the youth in Tondo. His student performers impressed a fullhouse audience at the Little Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, two shows in a row, with their talent in acting, dancing and singing original compositions.
He is currently assigned to lead the community of Don Bosco Tondo where he continues to care for the youth with utmost devotion. “I have never been happier,” he said. “How I wish I had been assigned here in Tondo much earlier. When I celebrate Mass here, so many are happy to attend. The people cry because they are so moved by the Eucharist. When was the last time you cried during Mass because you felt the presence of God?”
Last Jan. 6, Father Dennis turned 60. His dear friends from the Ginto Foundation hosted a birthday celebration for him with surprises prepared by their families. It started with a Mass concelebrated by Father Dennis himself. As a special gift to his guests, we got prayed over by Salesian priests. Then, his dear friend, mystic healer Carmelo Cortez, distributed petals to each one of us. We were so touched to see that our miraculous petals had the image of the Blessed Mother on them.
When asked what were the highlights of his past 60 years, Father Dennis shared his thoughts. “At first, I remembered all the bad things. Would you believe? Yes I did. I recalled all my trials and difficulties. Through the years, there were many times when I felt like I was being kicked around by illness, betrayal, disappointments and grueling challenges.” Then he went to a hermitage. There, he realized that these were actually “Holy Kicks.” Going deeper, he discovered that there is a purpose for these so-called “Holy Kicks,”
which, Father Dennis defined, “are blessed complications in life meant to draw us closer to Jesus on the cross, so close where He can kiss us.”
He related the story of his first visit to Lourdes as a young priest. On his way to visit the home of Saint Bernadette, he saw a beautiful crucifix in a store. He bargained for it but the storekeeper wouldn’t budge. He could not afford it. So he kissed the lovely crucifix with such reverence and laid it gently back in its place. To his surprise he heard the voice of a lady from behind who said, “I will buy you that crucifix so you can kiss it every day.” That is when this young priest discovered that he loves to kiss the crucifix. Why? “Simply because each time I do, I feel Jesus is the one kissing me,” he said.
“We will have many more trials,” he warned. “But it doesn’t matter because we know the purpose of these Holy Kicks. And with each Holy Kick comes my resolve to trust God even more! Because when there is trust, there is joy and energy!”
“So, my dear friends,” he concluded, “Let us welcome the new year with an even deeper trust in our Lord.” (Father Dennis Paez will give a Lenten recollection on Feb. 22, Thursday at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Holy Mass at the Luna Gardens function room, Rockwell, Makati City. Love offering of P1,200 inclusive of snacks and lunch goes to the Ginto Foundation to support scholars of Don Bosco Tondo.) (Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com.)