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chance, nor others. But, with our open hearts, we can determine that we can change,” he said. He participated in a fundraiser for IHMC’s campaign — the singing priests’ concert at Kazuyo Restaurant in Melrose. He enjoyed their fellowship albeit cautioning them that he may not be a good singer. Little did they know that he helped rejuvenate choral groups both in Chicago and the Philippines by being the organist, musical arranger, composer and choir instructor. Since he grew up near St. Vincent Seminary in the Philippines, he attended Sunday masses in the seminary and participated in their activities. That early exposure to religious priests got him involved with the Knights of the Altar, affording him the knowledge of what it is like to be a priest. Education He graduated from St. Vincent Seminary in high school, earned his degree in AB Philosophy from Adamson University and his Master’s in Theology from St. Vincent School of Theology in Quezon City. He is now pursuing his MA in Community Counseling from De Paul University in Chicago. Priesthood, he said, is a “way of life [which] I learned to love... [it] has given me an indescribable sense of joy.” His joy comes from personal sacrifices in developing leaders across the globe. Bi-coastal leadership Fr. John Era serves the spiritual needs of the deaf. He is skilled in the use of sign language and has interpreted prayer services for deaf people. He has also been conducting leadership and skills training on planning, implementation and evaluation, while spending his summers in the Philippines, for 13 years now. He has taken part as volunteer instructor for the Filipino-American Community Health Initiative, has conducted leadership training for the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment in Chicago, and has been a retreat facilitator for Immaculate Conception School in Monmouth, Illinois.
With that personal mission in life, it is not surprising that Fr. John Era travels a lot as it connects him to parishes, across from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. He travels a distance of more than 10,000 miles a year for Simbang Gabi (the 9-day novena masses preceding Christmas) and summer retreats. The parishes he visits are Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles (IHMC), St. Stephen Protomartyr Church in Des Plaines, Transfiguration Church in Chicago and Congregation of the Mission, St. Vincent in the Philippines. His homily at IHMC two years ago is still memorable for me. He spoke of how our cultural values of warm, noble hospitality in dealing with diverse folks can attract non-Catholics to participate in the Church. He spoke of friendships across cultures and how he enjoys the diversity and unique experiences. His sermon resonated with the parishioners — it highlighted pride in one’s cultural heritage, going beyond mere blind obedience to God and being a grace to others. Fr. John also spoke about the importance of family. In 2010, he made a homily on how genes affect human behavior, on social environment and on how the power of the mind can determine change. He emphasized that the way we think determines our emotions. “When we stereotype, we do not give ourselves a
Here are excerpts of our interview by email: Describe your reflections on the Taoist Tale about the Woodcarver. JVE: The tale makes me reflect on the true meaning of success. I am flattered when I receive compliments; I get hurt when people criticize me for not doing well. Too much affirmation can be addictive and when it becomes my sole ultimate goal in every endeavor, I end up [being] motivated to do good deeds, not for the sake of others, but for my own selfish needs. Too much criticism can be very frustrating, and when I allow these hurtful words [to] affect my being, I end up [feeling] dejected and incapacitated from dispensing my responsibilities. Thus, it is imperative that I focus on why I [became] a priest. It means taking to heart the real meaning of genuine service by living the Gospel of Jesus. When that happens, with or without affirmation or criticism, I [can] continue serving God’s people selflessly. How do you find God in your daily activities? How does God find you? JVE: I learned that each person, each culture is unique. It is in these encounters that I try to witness God’s love. By respecting where people are coming from and sharing myself to them, I make them feel that my friendship is God’s gift to them. My Christian values will always be with me, and every time I communicate and relate to them, they gain a firsthand experience of how my faith in God has molded me as a person. Somehow it is in this personal witnessing that I convey my Christian faith. Now, I have gained more friends who are culturally different from me. I have realized that I learn more by taking risks in life. The National Association of Filipino Priests (U.S.A) 37