Braving COVID
By MONTY MENDIGORIA
I’M a head servant at Feast Makati Legaspi.
My ministry is the Link Ministry. We connect people to other attendees so that they will feel family inside The Feast.
Our mission is to bring the love of Jesus to everyone through our Ministry that no one will be left behind.
Recently, I read that one of the members of 4th Impact–the world-renowned singing group–faced a trial. Their parents were in critical condition in a hospital in Quezon City.
Since they are Catholics, I immediately chatted with one of the sisters. I asked if they can request for the chaplain of the hospital to administer the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick. Unfortunately, because of the Pandemic, the chaplain wasn’t available. I got so bothered but kept focused and thought of ways how I could find a priest to administer the sacraments to them. That night, before I went to bed, I prayed to God to give me a solution to this– but the following morning, I still did not know what to do.
In the afternoon, I got a message from one of the sisters, saying that the hospital is allowing a priest from outside to come and visit their parents. I looked up and told God, “Wow! You really are an answering God.” My next problem was who’s brave enough to go into the battlefield in the middle of a crossfire? So, I went to Facebook and posted my need for a priest.
Many answered and messaged me and I thank them whole-heartedly for that willingness to serve. But what amazed me the most was this man, Fr. Bob McConaghy, who asked the patients’ whereabouts and the permission to be allowed to visit the patients in the COVID ICU.
He said, “Don’t worry about me, I already had the vaccine in the US before I flew back to Manila. I’ll be fine,” he said. “I want to see them immediately.”
The next time I read Father’s message was, “I’m on my way there. The daughters got me a clearance from the hospital.” And a message from one of the daughters made me cry, “Fr. Bob just administered the sacraments and we are just waiting for him to go out of the ICU for us to hear confession.” I just felt God’s love flowed in me through the brave move of Fr. Bob McConaghy. An old man like him braced the threat of being infected by the deadly virus even if he’s already vaccinated just to fulfill his vows and heeded the call of duty. What an amazing servant of God.
At right, he serves at The Feast Holy Week Retreat.
For indeed, he lives by the promise in Psalm 23:
“Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil for
You are with me.“
Thank you, Fr. Bob.
You’re the bravest man I’ve ever known
