FR. JAMES B. REUTER, S.J.-

On our way to the hospital, Our Lady of Peace which Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. helped build, I began to recall my very first meeting with the dear Father. It was at the main Ateneo de Manila campus on Padre Faura Street, (before the school was made into a university) in 1952. I was in my junior year in college pursuing an A.B. Journalism degree.

Fr. Reuter was originally assigned at Ateneo de Naga right after World War II. He, together with other Jesuit priests who were caught by the war were under detention in Los Banos, Laguna until war’s end.

Fr. Reuter who is a naturalized Filipino by resolution of the Congress of the Philippines, celebrated the 75th anniversary of his first canonical vows in 1934 as an 18-year old Jesuit novice, last September 8, 2009.

His first project at the Ateneo de Manila was to produce a weekly one hour radio play with strong Catholic themes under the name of AVE MARIA PLAYERS. He got me and other boys and girls willing to act over the radio to play parts in the radio plays that he often wrote himself. I remember some of our lead actors included Celia Laurel, Sixto Roxas, Mitos Sison and the Powell sisters playing big and small parts week after week.

When television reached the Philippines Father Reuter presented TV shows under the title of MARY ROSE AND STA. ZITA aired over ABS on Roxas Boulevard. I continued playing supporting roles in these one hour Saturday evening TV presentations.

It was a delight working with Father Reuter for he exuded confidence, commitment and above all warmth. He was always patient with us. So, when I was preparing for my own wedding I immediately thought of asking Father Reuter to officiate and thus posed the question and invitation which he readily accepted. And so we were married on August 5, 1959 at the Pinaglabanan Church, on San Juan Rizal.

Little did I foresee that our dear father would eventually officiate in the weddings of our three children, the last one being that of our son Antonio, Jr. in 2005. I must say he was a real trouper despite his difficulty in walking. He abided by the dictum of actors and performers “The show must go on!”

So, at 6 a.m. Manila time Father Reuter assisted by his walker – for he was already having difficulty walking - arrived at the Altar of San Agustin Church in Intramuros Manila ready to officiate at the wedding of our son Jay and bride to be Jenny.

Over the six decades in the Philippines, Father Reuter presented plays not only at the Ateneo where he shared honors with Fr. Henry Lee Irwin, S.J. who was known for years as the accomplished Shakespearean actor and director ever.

He also presented many plays for the St. Paul College recruiting Ateneans in many of them acting together with Paulinian actresses.

In 1960, Fr. Reuter was entrusted the establishment of a group known as the PHILIPPINE FEDERATION OF BROADCASTERS, which later became known as Catholic Media Network (CMN).

During the dark days of Martial Law under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Father Reuter, acting as spokesman for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, with much courage and even defiance in his stance that led to his house arrest for several years.

As I drove towards Our Lady of Peace Mission Hospital where Father had been staying since the abolishment of his office I recalled the fact that it was this very hospital which he helped established during the administration of President Joseph Estrada. The hospital was constructed precisely and primarily to serve the poor people in the community. Free of charge.

Not many, by now, realize that Fr. James B. Reuter first arrived in Manila in 1938 at the age of 21, to join other Jesuits to teach at the Ateneo de Manila .

It is interesting to note that during the 63 years of his working in the Philippines, Fr. Reuter was able to achieve what many would imagine a team of two or three other individuals to achieve. Moreover, in the process of the good father’s interaction during his projects he has left an indelible imprint of his own on the lives of countless Filipinos including non-Catholics who have become by now his close and loyal friends.

As a result of this achievement many boys and girls from Catholic schools where Father had presented plays have dubbed themselves "Reuter Babies."

When we arrived at the OUR LADY OF PEACE MISSION hospital in Paranaque we were brought up to the fourth floor where Fr. Reuter had a room and with an assigned caregiver to care for him for 24 hours..

Before we were ushered in with my wife Chita, we were required to wear a cloth mask to check any possible infection for Father was weak and susceptible to infection and so he had to be kept indoors under sterile conditions as much as possible. We were met with a big smile by Father who was in his wheel chair. He looked a bit frail and my wife and I took turns in embracing him and then we proceeded to chat. He did not sound a bit sick and not a trace of pain showed on his face.

Before too long we knew that he would need to rest so we prepared to say our goodbyes but first I requested him to bless us, which he agreed to do. Then right after his blessing, Father Reuter asked the both of us to bless him in return. We were honored and a bit thrown off but we managed a small prayer and ending with our blessing over him as he sat with his hands folded in prayer and making the sign of the cross.