Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. celebrates his 93rd birthday

MANILA, May 23, 2009—The venerable grand old man of Philippine Church and secular media, Magsaysay awardee for journalism, EDSA I hero, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ, celebrated his 93rd birthday, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital.

This is where he is presently residing, probably till his death, upon retiring from the National Office of Mass Media and the Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters, of which he has been the founding Executive Director and Executive Secretary, respectively.

He resigned and both offices will be closed at the end of this month. Fr. Reuter, a humble man and good religious, could only bow in obedience!

“Tatang,” as close associates call him, was the main celebrant. He had to be helped through the celebration of the Eucharist. His eyes were no longer good and some of the prayers had to be dictated.

His original all-male Glee Club at the Ateneo de Manila was there. Ruben Nunez, the advertising man and Noel Trinidad (minus Subas Herrero, who was also a member of that Glee Club). They sang during the Mass. And they kept singing for him, around him when he was still taking his lunch.

“Tatang” would stop his lunch and would re-live his conducting days. Sr. Sarah, Sr. Aurelie, Tita Cherry, Virgie, Evelyn, Boy, Cecille (his caregiver since the day he needed one) and other former staff at the NOMM were there. His friends, former students, spiritual sons and daughters, admirers were there—close to a hundred.

Former Judge Jose Apolo, one of Fr. Jim’s former basketabll players in the team he coached at the Ateneo de Naga, gifted some of the guests with his book “Quo Vadis, Philippines?”. “Tatang” wrote the introduction. (Fr. Nonie Dolor)

Source: CBCP News

Fr. James B. Reuter S.J. on the friendship of Fr. Martin Zillig, S.J. and Fr. Henry Lee Irwin, S.J.: The Jackass anecdote

Fr. James B. Reuter SJ, who aside from moderating the Ateneo Glee Club and serving as trainer for the men’s basketball team of yore, once told a story about Father Irwin and another Jesuit Fr. Martin Zillig, who both had many a spirited debate about many a thing.

“At the end of the day, the priests would gather at the recreational room at the Jesuit Residence for small talk about the day’s events. Both Fathers Zillig and Irwin were highly opinionated and they would continue their discussions at the balcony only for the former to storm off in anger muttering, ‘Jackass! Jackass!’

“When Father Zillig fell sick and lay dying, he asked for Father Irwin to stay by his bedside.

“As Father Irwin packed a few belongings to take with him to the hospital, his eyes burned with tears and he began to mumble, ‘I know, I know. He wants me there so he can look me in the eye one more time and say, ‘Jackass! Jackass!’”

The anecdote, humorous it may be, underscores the close-knit fraternity of the Jesuits and Father Harry’s compassion. Towards the 1970’s, Father Irwin fell ill and retired from teaching. Instead he tended to his garden outside the Jesuit Residence and walked around the campus befriending and giving impromptu lectures to students about school, life, theater, and just about anything. He pushed students to explore life and live it to the fullest.

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Source: “The Blue Ghost” by Rick Olivares