(This is Part 5 of Father Olan, God, and the Rain by Peter Solis Nery. Translated from the Hiligaynon by Celia F. Parcon)
IN KEEPING with the promise of Knight Kiko and Knight Caloy, the Knights of Columbus had a vehicle driven around on Friday and Saturday, sounding out the proper announcement. The Legion of Mary were busy too in decorating and beautifying the church. The Catholic Women’s League members went around collecting contributions and donations for a little feast after the liturgy and the prayers.
Padre Olan instructed them all not to turn the liturgy into a circus, to ensure that there will be no peanut or baye-bayepeddlers, or anyone selling Tru-Orange and Mexican turnips even outside the church.
The women just laughed. They were only too happy that their parish priest consented to holding a special day to pray for the rain to come. Even Nang Paquit showed more energy in serving the priest after he changed his mind.
When asked by Padre Olan, Nang Paquit admitted that she loved the idea of a special day of prayer. However, she didn’t feel it was her place to express this, considering that she was only a cook. Padre Olan was touched. He gave Nang Paquit a hug, and her eyes started to fill with tears.
The whole of Friday, Padre Olan wrote his sermon and picked out readings from the Holy Book. He also prepared some new prayers.
Early on Saturday morning, members of the Apostleship of Prayer assisted him in choosing hymns for the special liturgy. He also trained the Youth Ministry choir which volunteered to lead in the singing.
Great was his surprise when he came out of the church to find so many people coming from everywhere. They were said to have come from the different towns on the island, wanting to take part in the special day of prayer for rain.
Even while it was the patronal feast of the neighboring town of Jordan, yet there were many people who came to his church in Navalas. They pitched tents and sat on the grassy ground or gathered in the park beside the church.
Padre Olan summoned Grand Knight Enying and Inday Alice of the CWL, and demanded an explanation.
“Father,” started Inday Alice, “they want to pray with us, and there is nothing we can do about it.”
“Father, the prayer certainly becomes much stronger when more people pray, don’t you think?” said Grand Knight Enying. “The more, the merrier,” he added.
“The church can’t hold all of us,” the priest retorted.
Grand Knight Enying assured him that would not be a problem. Don Beato Yngala had volunteered to provide two additional loudspeakers so that the faithful who could not be accommodated inside the church may still hear all the prayers and petitions.
The church exterior took on a festive mood that night. It was still hot and humid; there was not any breeze through the leaves of the trees. But an unusual joy permeated the crowd, like the birth of renewed hope. Padre Olan could hardly sleep that night.
*
“As Your children, Father, we seek recourse in You,” chanted Padre Olan Divinagracia in the middle of the altar bedecked with bougainvillea blooms.
“Give us rain, O Lord!” responded the faithful.
It was a long chanted responsorial prayer. Padre Olan chanted with solemnity, and the faithful responded with respect.
There were plentiful prayers and a lengthy offertory procession. All sorts of offerings were brought to the altar: mangoes, turnips, guavas, atis, camachile, chickens, peanuts, fish, rice, eggs, and bunches of bananas.
Everyone prayed fervently. One can feel, even almost grasp, the faith that filled the whole church. The congregation energetically joined the youth choir. Even Don Beato who was not known to be religious, joined in the singing and in the profession of faith.
At the end of the liturgy, Padre Olan’s hands felt calloused from the numerous handshakes and kisses that he got. The parish leaders would hardly let him go. First it was the CWL, then the Knights of Columbus, and then the Apostleship of Prayer that tugged at him.
Don Beato Yngala got ahead of the youthful choir members approaching the priest, and invited him to dinner at his mansion. Padre Olan politely declined, but promised to visit the don the following Wednesday. The don patted him on the shoulder and whispered, “Thank you.”
Before entering the parish convent, Padre Olan looked at the crowd and wondered if they had forgotten that it was the feast of St. John the Baptist that Sunday. They were happy, and seemed more Christian than usual. There were tables of food prepared by the CWL and the K of C, and everyone partook of what was there. Padre Olan grew teary-eyed when he saw Don Beato accept a piece of steamed banana offered by a shabby old woman. What miracle is brought by a special day of prayer to rain in the hearts of men?
Padre Olan looked up to the heavens. There was not a single thin cloud, not a sign that the rain fervently sought would fall. He could not keep the tears from falling. (To be continued) (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
