FOR Nellie Hizon receiving the Papal Benemerenti Award for her exceptional service to the Catholic Church from Pope Benedict XVI came as a shocking, big surprise, to say the least.
“At first, I did not know such an award existed,” a speechless at times Hizon said in an interview with the Asian Journal. “It really did come as a big surprise especially receiving it from the Holy Father.”
Titus Verzosa felt the same way.
“It is the most humbling experience in my life,” said Verzosa. “I was at a loss for words. It’s been several months now and receiving the award doesn’t sink in. I cannot fathom the depth and the width of this award. It’s just mind boggling that I received an award from the Pope.”
Excellent Filipino-Americans
On October 10, 2011, the Philippine House of Representatives passed House Resolution No. 171 - commending two Filipino-Americans, Hizon and Titus Verzosa, for their service to the Catholic Church and receiving the Papal Benemerenti Award, a prestigious honor that has only been given to 75 individuals since 1949. The resolution was formally presented to the two on December 23.
“For receiving the Benemerenti Award conferred by no less than Pope Benedict XVI for their dedicated service in churches in the United States,” US Congress passed the resolution to give them due recognition.
Verzosa, from Fresno, California, received the award for dedicating 17 years of his life as choir director, finance council member and fundraising events coordinator at St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish. He was presented the medal (a gold Greek cross depicting the image of Christ with His hand raised in blessing) and a certificate last February.
Hizon, a native of Malabon, Philippines now residing in the Bay Area, received the medal and insignia of the Papal Honor on August 14 from the Most Reverend George Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, for her efforts “in institutionalizing the Simbang Gabi Commissioning Celebration in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2008, the first archdiocesan-wide celebration in the US,” reported Inquirer.net.
“The Commissioning is about the sending forth of the Filipino community on a mission to be the light in their respective parishes. By the ceremony, the Archdiocese recognized the significant spiritual impact of the Filipino tradition of the Simbang Gabi,” the Philippine Consulate said.
In an earlier statement, Consul General Marciano A. Paynor Jr. said, “I am proud that our kababayans have received the Benemerenti Awards, which recognized their exceptional ministry to their respective churches. May they continue to be shining lights of exemplary dedication to the church, faith and community that they serve.”
Nellie Hizon: Humble servant
Despite the magnitude of the award, Hizon is taking the honor in stride. She is not letting the award get to her head. As she said, “there’s still a lot of work to do in the community and serving the Lord.”
Hizon has served the church in the Philippines and the US, and the Filipino community in some type of capacity for most of her life. She is a member of the Board of Regents at St. Patrick Seminary & University, a member of the Advisory Board for the Catholic San Francisco archdiocesan newspaper, Vice Chair of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Member of the Filipino Ministry Consultative Board, and a parish volunteer at St. Stephen in San Francisco.
Like many humble servants of God, she does her work quietly and with little fanfare.
So when she received a letter from the Archbishop Most Reverend George Niederauer on July 4 weekend saying that she was to be awarded the prestigious honor, she took the news in and continued with her work.
“What was so interesting is when you do your work, you do it because it is of value and you do what you can to elevate the Filipinos in the community and proceed knowing that this is something you can do,” she explains.
“I am a quiet worker in the vineyard of the Lord. As far as I know I’m humble and quiet. My mind is focused, on foremost, in the concept that I use every gift that was given me to proclaim the goodness of the Lord.”
Though Hizon was raised a Catholic, she never attended a Catholic school. She said her parents were instrumental in forming her love for the Catholic church and telling their children to “live your faith.” Attending public schools in the Philippines did not stop her from learning about the faith.
“The call must have started when I was very young, when I was in grade school, trying to comprehend the mystery of The Trinity as I prepared for my first Holy Communion,” she said. “I was in a public elementary school. It has continued to fascinate me, even now, as I pursue to learn more about my faith.
“Not being able to get formal Catholic education but with a profound desire to learn about mysteries of my faith, I became particularly drawn to finding time to study and read the Sacred Scriptures, lives of Saints, history of the Church, then using all that I have learned in proclaiming them to the people through my deeds, examples, and actions, wherever I go.”
Since arriving in the US from the Philippines in 1984, Hizon has been active in several Bay Area churches.
One of the contributions she was cited for by the Archbishop is the spread of Simbang Gabi, a Filipino traditional mass during the Christmas holiday, to the churches in the Bay Area.
In 1996, there were only three or four churches performing Simbang Gabi, she said. Now, the nine-day novena has spread to more than 25 parishes.
Another contribution, Hizon also made was giving a speech about domestic violence and the role of parishioners, church administrators and goers and believers in preventing it last spring at the Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church Daly City, California.
“There is no violence or abuse component in expressing one’s love. Everyone deserves to be safe and to live without fear. As the Church teachings emphasize the dignity of human person, we could bring the dark secret of violence into the light of the Gospel truth. We could bring love back to our families when there is pain, abuse and violence,” she said during her speech which was well-received.
Upon receiving such a prestigious award, there was a time when Hizon was conflicted about how to feel about it. She never expected anything. She just wanted to be dutiful and follow the Lord’s path.
“Should I be like St. Peter who abandoned his boat and followed the Lord, or like St. Paul who remained a tentmaker while proclaiming the Good News?”
Pondering on this, she later sought advice from the Archbishop, who told her, “Just be Nellie.”
“I have used this phrase as my guide ever since. I have to simply be ‘Nellie’ in what I do.”
“The Good Lord will reveal to me in many ways what He wants me to accomplish for Him,” she said. “The work that continues for me is to know more deeply where God will lead us to, how I could bring His message in what I do, and that I remain attentive to His inspiration.”
When asked what advice she would give to Filipinos on how they could be more spiritual or active in the church and Filipino community, she said:
“As Filipinos, our own rich history of migration, our adaptive culture, our hospitable customs, our strong faith traditions and devotional practices provide rich resources in witnessing to the Gospel and the experience of Christ. As present-day disciples, the Filipino faithful now brings to the rest of the world the faith that the missionaries brought to our shores.
“But, to fulfill this mission, we need to look beyond our popular religiosity and thereafter endeavor to learn more intimately what the Lord teaches. The challenge of evangelization is to discover God in our traditions, history and faith expressions. These elements are our starting point to deepen our relationship among people and ultimately with God.”
Titus Verzosa: How ordinary became extraordinary
Little did Titus Verzosa know that playing the guitar and heading a church choir could lead him to such a remarkable award.
In 1997, a parish priest at St. Mary Queen of Apostles in Fresno asked Verzosa if he could lead the choir.
“Someone told me you can play the guitar,” the priest said.
“Father, I haven’t picked up yet alone played the guitar in 25 years,” recalled Verzosa, a certified public accountant who at that time only served as a member of the parish finance counsel.
“Besides, I don’t even know any of the songs or the hymns,” he said.
The priest gave Verzosa a music sheet and within a week Verzosa called up friends and formed a small choir. He’s been leading the way ever since. For more than a decade, Verzosa and many members of the choir sing in mass and funerals and volunteer their time to spread God’s words.
“When you do something, anything, even if it is something ordinary like playing the guitar or talking on the phone, if I do this according to the will of God, then the results become extraordinary,” he said.
Being part of a church choir may seem ordinary to many people but it is a big deal especially for Verzosa.
“I tell the choir members there’s a big difference between secular singing and choir singing,” he explains. “In secular singing you’re on a stage. Here in church you are in the sanctuary. In secular singing the attention is on you. In choir singing, the attention is on the eucharist. The Lord is in the eucharist. The attention of the mass should not be taken away from the Eucharist.
“When we sing in the choir we are singing our prayers to God...We are leading the people of God in prayer through song because the hymns are the prayers.”
It is this kind of dedication to God and effort that his current pastor Father Timothy Cardoza saw in him when he recommended Verzosa for the Benemerenti Award to the late Bishop John Steinbock.
“I ask myself this all the time. How did I get this award?” said Verzosa. “There are other deserving people who have done and accomplished much more than I have... But a good friend of mine approached me and said, ‘you know Titus you have qualities you have not seen in yourself but your pastor and others sees them in you. That’s why he gave you the recommendation.’”
“It’s very humbling because I’m doing something ordinary but because i’m doing it with the will of God and let the results taken care of by God,” said Verzosa. “Maybe this is one of the results.”
Verzosa, though, knows his work is not done. He may have received the ultimate award, but he doesn’t see it as him receiving it. He shares the award with everyone around him.
“Receiving an award from the Pope is significant,” he said. “But I’m just a channel. I’m just Titus Verzosa receiving it. I believe I’m not just representing my family or the Filipino-American Catholics of Fresno.
“I am honored to receive it for all of the Filipino Americans who have not been recognized and have been doing volunteer work not only for the church but also for their fellowmen. I think this is what the medal is all about - unselfish and unconditional giving. There are men and women who are doing better than what I’ve done. The award is also in the past it doesn’t guarantee me anything. There’s still work to be done.”
Verzosa urges Filipinos to continue to volunteer their time and efforts to God. And the key word is time. Make time.
“Every thing came from God even our time so I say give it back to God. And everything will fall into place,” he said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Jan 14-17, 2012 Sec A pg.10)
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