Leonardo

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While millions of adoring fans rejoiced with Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, who won his first Oscar as best actor for his role in the movie “The Revenant,” I was listening to another Leonardo telling some 8,000 Cebuano Catholics his own narrative during the Martial Law days.

Fr. Leonardo Polinar, a priest who belongs to the Diocese of Tagbilaran, was one of speakers in the 40th anniversary of the local Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement last February 28 at the IEC Pavilion.  The charismatic milestone was the very first post-IEC event in The Pavilion and it was good to see the grand plenary hall almost filled up by thousands of participants from all over the province.

The Boholano priest is credited for bringing the Charismatic movement in Cebu in 1976.  On its face, the tribute does not really sound spectacular because of his priestly vocation but listening to the local Leonardo, I am convinced the clergy in the country should not only pay attention to him, but also immerse themselves in the lay movement to prevent them from the affliction of clericalism.

Priests turning into bureaucrats who are more enamored with money and power instead of being in love with Jesus are exhortations coming Pope Francis.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement started in 1974 in the Philippines through the efforts of Fr. Herbert Schneider, SJ, but there are no indications that Fr. Polinar had guidance from Fr. Herb when the former introduced the movement in Cebu in 1976, or two years after the movement was organized in the capital region by Fr. Herb.

In the early days of Martial Law, Fr. Polinar was an activist priest who earned the ire of the military for allegedly fomenting dissent against the government while serving the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagbilaran City.  According to the Boholano priest, he got “invited” to Camp Crame many times by military officials because he was in fact a believer of the communist ideology, by his own admission during the February 28 event in the IEC Pavilion.

Because of his ideological leanings, Fr. Polinar found himself getting a forced leave from his parish duties in Tagbilaran City to study in Manila where he got an invitation to attend a charismatic prayer gathering.  That is how he experienced a conversion of the heart.  Among fellow believers in the Catholic movement, this was an inner conversion brought about by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Arriving in Cebu in 1976, he was inspired to organize a prayer group in the Santo Rosario parish.  Acting as shepherd or guide of the first prayer group of 5 parishioners who responded to his invitation, Fr. Polinar taught the group to pray, sing praise songs and reflect on the Word of God.

The simple prayer gathering was in fact the very seed of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Visayas.

In subsequent group worships, he prayed over one sick member who was miraculously healed.  Word of his healing gifts spread so that the prayer-group swelled in number and which later gave him discernment to provide formation and spiritual growth seminars for a covenanted way of life.

From an ideologically confused pastor who was almost snatched by the communist movement, Fr. Leonardo Polinar is known today as a gifted charismatic leader, a much sought-after speaker not just in the country but also abroad.

He has written numerous books on spirituality, covenanted way of life, and series of manuals on charismatic worship.   In the course of his apostolate, he founded PACEM, a community of priests immersed in the charismatic movement.  Together with Monsignor Fred Kriekenbeek, they are called “founding instruments” of the charismatic lay movement in Cebu.

I wasn’t able to see Fr. Polinar up close in the IEC Pavilion two weeks ago but listening to his speech, he looked and sounded robust for a septuagenarian.  I wish him many more years of good health as he continues to lead Catholics to the springtime of their faith.

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Today at 4 p.m. in the Ayala Activity Center, the University of San Carlos Press will launch “The Cebu Almanac 2016”.   Earlier billed as a groundbreaking publication, the 350-page book is a virtual treasure trove of facts and figures about Cebu collected and compiled by the different academic departments and research centers of USC.

Having said that, the wealth of information in “The Cebu Almanac 2016” is a must-have book, an indispensable resource for students, professionals, businessmen, government officials and even for first-time visitors in Cebu who might want to know more about our city and province.

I find it significant that the Cebu Almanac is being rolled out after the highly successful 51st IEC.  Foreign delegates have been greatly impressed with the way Cebu hosted the global congress and their amazement will most likely heighten their interest about our place.  In which case, they will find plenty of useful info in this book.

Congratulations to USC Press and Almanac project manager, Professor Frank Largo.   Together with USC Press manager Jose Eleazar “Jobers” Bersales, they certainly deserve a pat in the back.