“It seems easier to build a physical church, much like the initial work I did securing donations to help build St. Philomena, but it is much harder to build a spiritual community wherever I am. I am the instrument of the Master Artist [God], who finds kindred spirits, who draws pictures, who sees the potential in the way I see church people. God is the master artist that shapes the best from what I can see from that person." - Fr. Riz J. Carranza
Fr. Riz managed to give us a half hour interview, between confessions from 3 to 430pm and an anticipated mass at 5pm. His schedule was non-stop since 3pm, and we ended our interview at close to 10pm. From his original name, Rizal Jose, his name was shortened when he got his American citizenship. He was born on June 19 and shares the same birth date the Philippine National hero.
As the oldest Mother Church organized in 1905, St. Mary of the Assumption Church has bloomed its registry to 1,300 families. Msgr. John Ukaegbu spoke of faith as “being active, progressive and sometimes unduly aggressive." "We must push, pray until something happens. Pray as if everything depends on God, and act as if all depended on us,” he said.
He must be referring to Fr. Riz, for he seems to be doing all he can, as if all depended on him and his parishioners.
He volunteered to become the pastor at St. Mary’s, 13 years ago. “I identify with The Woodcarver Tale of Lao Tzu, as I draw objects on paper, mostly kids. I am an animator, ” he said.
Fr. Riz is also the lead guitarist and the lead singer for the liturgical songs. He will also be a performing artist for a Pinoy priests’ musical, starring 30 Pinoy priests, to support the convening of a historic first National Assembly of Filipino Priests Nov. 8-11, 2011, led by Bishop Oscar Solis and organized by committee members, including Fr. Rodel Balagtas and Fr. Albert Avenido of Los Angeles. Fr. Riz is excited that he will join hundreds of priests in a historical formation in the USA.
At age 5, he became morally aware. Over dinner one night, his father, Sergio Carranza queried him and his siblings about their dreams and ambitions. To which Fr. Riz replied that he wanted to be a priest.
He went to Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary in Sorsogon and graduated from college at Holy Rosary in Naga. He studied abroad and completed his Masters of Divinity (specializing in theology) at St. John Seminary in Camarillo.
Despite a national student travel ban in the Philippines during the martial law years, he became one of only two students who were allowed to travel. He was ordained a priest by Cardinal Timothy Manning on June 21, 1980. On May 20, 1999 he became a deacon.
His first assignment was at Holy Family Church in Pasadena, the very first person of color in a predominantly white community. He became the spiritual director and catechist of schoolchildren and attracted more Filipinos to the church. He is credited for encouraging Filipinos to organize themselves into a community and become active members. He gives credit to the Church’s leadership for helping him become a good priest.
But, God had bigger plans for him. He met some challenges at St. Robert Bellarmine from the pastor, who felt threatened because the parishioners referred to Fr. Riz as their pastor. He was asked to leave but then the pastor became ill and had to be replaced by another one, who ended up quitting the priesthood.
That first challenge taught him lessons: “How to be a good administrator, how to be a good shepherd to the people, how to guide them, how to be obedient to my pastor. Though those trying moments could have left me bitter and discouraged from continuing, I learned something that there is more good in me and I prefer to be good than resent negative things.“
His second challenge came at St. Mel’s in Woodland Hills. The pastor was a retired colonel and was 32 years older at that time. He did not welcome, entertain, nor respect Fr. Riz's opinions, despite his hardwork.
“ I asked myself – who benefits from all my work? Nobody can make the decision for me to be happy except myself. I recognized that I owe nobody here, that it was my parents who raised me, loved me and affirmed me. That realization inspired me to relate even better with the students and to actively be with them: Whites, Blacks, Filipinos. I was involved in forming a community amongst the Filipinos," Fr. Riz said.
He was then assigned to St. Mary’s and as an associate pastor, where he made the youth ministry visible and had a turnout of 30 to 40 altar servers. During his tenure here, he joined 25 priests for continuing education in Biblicum in Rome, studying the sacred scriptures, proceedings of various offices and got introduced to the Vatican’s offices.
Here, he was fortunate to have met the soon-to-be beatified Pope John Paul II.
He was then assigned to St. Philomena, where as a pastor, he ministered to a diverse group of ethnicities. They grew spiritually and thrived as a community.
In 2003, their sacred place of worship was built in completion. Fr. Riz helped lay the foundation of securing donors, oversight for the master building plans, and secured permission to construct from the City of Carson.
He became the pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption in Santa Maria, where he educated the parishioners about Vatican II (it was introduced in 1965 but was only implemented here in 1999.) Liturgical renewals, seminars and spirit of Vatican II became the focus for a year.
By the second year, the spirit permeated the community and their participation started to increase.
Today, after 13 years, the pastoral council has been established, along with the parish finance council and a leaders committee. More folks came forward through various ministries.
Under Fr. Riz’s stewardship, 90 individual families are visited by Lay Ministers of the Eucharist for the sick and by the Legion of Mary. Communion is given to convalescent parishioners.
He now looks forward to meeting priests fired up to serve the Lord and to establish new ministries in the upcoming Assembly. He wants to see more evangelization done by his parish, for when they become one with the Lord, “ they take the word of God into their lives and others."
He has been a priest for 32 years now. It struck me that I too have been married that long. Fr. Riz gave a special blessing, for me and my husband, Enrique, who willingly drove me. “May you grow in this journey together, along with your dedication and devotion to the community you are serving. May you make life decisions with acceptance and respect for one another. May you grow in Christ as you go through life in pain, in struggle, in peace, and in joy!"
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
