At the funeral Mass for Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J., in 2013, a tribute by Fr. Jojo Magadia, S.J., then provincial superior of the Philippine Jesuits, captured the person, life, work and soul of “Fr. Jim” (as Fr. Reuter was known) in one word: edifying.
Years ago, Father Irwin was about to give his talk to Assumptionistas having their retreat. White-haired, lean with sharply defined profile and penetrating eyes, Father Irwin stood motionless on the aisle of the chapel.
On Monday, many Filipinos will be thinking of one of the greatest human beings the Philippines has ever known, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ. It will be his first death anniversary.
Every week, my challenge is to find a theme that my target audience can relate to. I go for the high involvement of my readers when they read my column. I choose themes with a sense of originality.
“What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?” (Mark 8:36) Fr. James B. Reuter SJ kept on pounding this thought into our brains during our high school retreat a few decades ago. Being young and impressionable, we couldn’t help but swoon over Fr. Reuter’s a la Marlon Brando looks.
It’s the 96th birthday of Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ. At 4:30 p.m., a group of senior citizens who belonged to the all-male Ateneo glee club of the ’50s gathered in the small chapel, just across Father Reuter’s room at Our Lady of Peace Charity Hospital in Parañaque.
