Father Robert-Joel Cruz celebrates silver anniversary

Father Robert-Joel Cruz, a native of Lucban, Quezon, in the Philippines, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood this year. He was ordained June 8, 1996, by Bishop Michael Jarrell, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

Father Cruz has been serving as diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, St. Peter the Apostle, and the Missionary Childhood Association since April 2005. He also serves as the diocesan director of the Ministry of Healing and Liberation.
 
When asked what influenced him to become a priest, Father Cruz says it was mainly his family. “My family always had special devotions to prayer, the Eucharist and Our Lady. We always went to Mass and were actively involved in the church. When I was little, my parents told me that the consecration was one of the most special moments of the Mass and during the eucharistic prayer and the consecration, I would go to the center aisle because I wanted to see what was happening. Watching the priest praying the eucharistic prayer during the consecration always fascinated me, even to today.”

Father Cruz says that ever since he was young boy, he wanted to be a priest. “I had my own little altar when I was young and I would pretend that I was celebrating Mass. Jesus and Mamma Mary, that’s what I call her, told me they wanted me to be a priest.”

He recalls his older brother, who is also a priest, telling him that he should have a plan B, just in case, but he told his brother he didn’t need a plan B, because in his heart he always knew that God was calling him to be a priest.

One of the reasons he came to the United States, says Father Cruz, was because he was always compared to his brother, who is a diocesan priest in the Philippines. “I was always a religious priest … I was a member of the Congregation of the Missions. Mission has always been part of my life and in my heart I know I am called to be a missionary priest and to help the poor.”

With the help of Father Roland Timbre, a deceased priest of the diocese who was from the same town as Father Cruz, he started communicating with the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, and discussing the move with his spiritual director. He finally arrived in the United States in August 1992.

He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Adamson University in Manila, Philippines, in 1992, and a master of divinity degree from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1996.

His experience at Notre Dame Seminary was much different than in the Philippines. “It was quite a change coming from a third world country. There were less restrictions here, and I had much more freedom. Everything was provided for me and I thought ‘these seminarians are spoiled.’ I just felt so blessed. All of my classmates were kind; I made a lot of friends there and I enjoyed the experience.”

The family of a fellow seminarian took him in to their home as one of their own and he says that meant a lot to him, especially during the holidays, which were the hardest times for him because the other seminarians would all go home.

Father Cruz says what he remembers most about the day he was ordained was the bishop and priests praying for him. “My older brother was there and he prayed over me. When I saw my brother approaching for the kiss of peace and we embraced there was a flood of tears that I couldn’t stop. I remember thinking, ‘We are not just blood brothers; we are brothers in the presbyterate.’ In this embrace of my brother, I felt all the embrace of God and Jesus Christ. … it was a surreal, pure grace moment of God’s love manifesting itself in that sign of peace. It was a very emotional day.”

Celebrating Mass and the sacraments are what Father Cruz has enjoyed most about being a priest and are also some of the most memorable moments he has experienced as a priest.

“In the celebration of holy Eucharist, I am always amazed at how God wishes to feed us – everything that God promises is happening in the Eucharist. Being able to celebrate confession – because I know I am also a sinner – the freeing nature of confession and seeing people being lifted up after confession is a feeling that is indescribable. Celebrating the sacrament of anointing of the sick is so special to me, being there for people at their time of need, just praying with them, and realizing that just the presence of the priest is enough. I also enjoy mission work. I go on at least two missions a year. Just being a priest is a grace and I always take that seriously.”

Father Cruz says he has always believed that God was calling him to the ministry of healing and liberation. He started to pray about it more when he moved to the United States because he was able to attend some charismatic services and be with other healing priests. After he was ordained a deacon, there was a group that would always invite him to do healing services, but he was hesitant about it at first because he didn’t want people to think he was doing it because he was seeking popularity or attention … he was afraid of the “label” … but he knew he was able to help people. He began receiving more invitations to have healing services, so he discussed it with his spiritual director and other healing priests in the area.

In July 2005, when he was leading a eucharistic pilgrimage in Italy, it became very real to him that this is what God wanted from him. He started the Pax Christi Healing Ministry in August of that year. After several extraordinary incidents of healing others, Father Cruz says now it doesn’t matter to him if people judge him or what they think, because he knows he has been given an incredible gift from the Holy Spirit.

Father Cruz says the foundation of his healing ministry is based on Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

“I love this Scripture passage; it has been etched in my soul since I was a young boy.”

The most challenging aspect of being a priest for Father Cruz has been knowing when to say “no.” “I am a human being so I need to care for myself, too, so that God can use me to help others. I had to learn to balance the idea of helping others, thinking of ministry and not sacrificing my prayer life,” he says.

Father Cruz has one older brother who is a priest in the Philippines, three older sisters (one who is deceased). His mother, who is 86, was actually preparing to become a Carmelite nun, but she became ill so the superior asked her to go home, and that’s when she met his father.

In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, walking, snow skiing, mountain climbing and spending as much time with his mother as he is able. “But, sometimes,” says the priest, “I just like to be quiet and live each moment aware of the presence of God in my life.”