A TRUE SHEPHERD OF SOULS: FATHER JIMMY B. HABABAG

During the five years of his ministry at Saint Joan of Arc, Father Jimmy taught us many things. In this reflection I would like to highlight only a few of them. First in my remembrance is the great devotion that he had to Our Blessed Mother, Mary. A day never passed that he did not stop to say a prayer by the statue of Mary in our parish office. I believe he wanted to ask for her help and to dedicate the work of the day to her and in her honor. His custom of always saying the Hail Mary after communion also reminded us all of Mary’s important role in our lives. His approach to ministry also honored Mary in that he was sincerely humble, filled with faith and a desire to do God’s will in all things.

Fr. Jimmy was also a wise counselor and spiritual director. He had a unique gift for reaching out to people when they were troubled and to help them with great sensitivity. Who among us can forget his preaching especially when he got himself worked up “with the Spirit”. I have to admit that I didn’t always understand every word but I always responded to the “Amen” with one of my own as did we all.

One further liturgical innovation that is not in the Mass Sacramentary was his announcement toward the end of Sunday Mass that those who did not leave early would receive “a special blessing”. I think that this “special blessing” did cut down on the early exodus from Mass at least when Fr. Jimmy presided. I would also like to give thanks for the wonderful priestly ministry that he demonstrated in his role as Chaplain of the Columbiettes and our Koinonia parish retreat weekend. He was so generous with his time, support and wise counsel. His creative side was expressed in his leadership of our Liturgy Committee and the special themes and enhancements of our sanctuary during Advent and Lent.

Father Jimmy was full of surprises, too. One of them was when he pulled up to the rectory with his new fire-engine red Chevrolet Camaro. His was a youthful and fun-loving spirit expressed with that car. One of our school children said to me one day pointing to the Camaro “whose cool car is that?” He smiled and was delighted to find out it was Father Jimmy’s. He was also a passionate gardener. You just have to look at the front of the rectory to admire his work. He planted, weeded, watered and tended all those flowers and shrubs with loving care. My only negative statement to him was “please, no more poinsettias, more orchids”. He loved those poinsettias! Another Father Jimmy characteristic was his love for “hot sauce”. I don’t think he ever ate anything except perhaps for cereal without drowning it in “hot sauce”.

Father Jimmy was a very spiritual man and this expressed itself in the times he would pray in our rectory chapel and in his love of statues. He liked to live surrounded by images of his favorite saints and it was difficult to distinguish his living room from a chapel. This deep spirituality was the heart of his life and of his priesthood. As a priest he had a special love for his Filipino sisters and brothers in faith. He regularly said Mass for them, participated in all of the special religious celebrations and by force of his example and experience was recognized as the “Dean” of the Filipino clergy of our diocese.

It is difficult to capture in words the life and accomplishments of a truly exceptional and holy man. Father Jimmy had a deep faith and a profound love for the Lord. He knew well that we are not created only for this life but for eternal life. While on this earth we are asked to make a difference and help people find the love of God through our example. In recent days, Father Jimmy knew that his life was probably going to be shorter than what was to be expected. He loved this life and at the same time loved the life with God that awaited him. He was never afraid to use all that science and medicine offered to help him but he also kept his eyes on heaven. It was a great blessing for him to be able to spend his last days with his family and friends in his beloved Philippines. He passed away gently and surrounded by love. He has left a powerful and long lasting impact upon all of the Saint Joan of Arc family. We will continue his presence and compassion by the quality and faithfulness of our parish life knowing that Father Jimmy is looking over us and assisting us with his prayers.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

May the following scripture text from Saint Paul bring some comfort to us in our grieving.

“We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

 Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.

 For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:14–5:1

– Msgr. Michael D. McGraw