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Ruben: My father, my teacher, my friend.

By Sr. Chrito A. Quinones, OP 

T he small village chapel was filled with joy—and a few tears—as the parish priest’s voice rang out: “Thank you, Mr. Ruben, for making this possible.” 

He was thanking the president of the barangay pastoral council for organizing, for the very first time, the grand visit of the miraculous and well-loved pilgrim image of Our Lady of Salvation to their remote village in time for their feast day. From the crowd, a tiny yet proud voice broke the moment: 

“That’s my dad!” Who would have thought that the man once known as a drunkard and a mere Sunday Mass-goer would one day stand as an active, passionate lay servant leader of the Church?

From Old Life to a New Calling

Three decades ago, the thought of serving in the Church felt impossible for Ruben. When his daughter once asked him to become a lay minister, he laughed and shook his head, insisting it was unimaginable. 

For him, faith meant simply attending Sunday Mass with his family—nothing more. He kept his distance from church work, yet his loyalty to the Catholic faith was unwavering. When another sect invited him, along with his family, to join them, he stood his ground and refused. Even in the height of his drinking days, one thing never changed: every Sunday, without fail, he was in church with his family. Little did anyone know that beneath the quiet routine and the scent of liquor was a heart that God was patiently preparing for a mission far greater than he could imagine.

One night, after drinking with friends, Ruben came home feeling unusually ill. He vomited repeatedly and could not recover. Days passed, and his body grew weaker and weaker. Doctors later confirmed he had been poisoned. Despite undergoing various treatments, every intervention seemed in vain. Soon, a grim rumor spread across the village—that Ruben had died—though he was still alive, clinging desperately to life.

Life Transformed Through Service

At the brink of death, Ruben and his wife turned to the Blessed Mother. With trembling voices and steadfast hope, they prayed the novena to Our Lady every day. Then, the miracle came. Ruben’s strength slowly returned, and against all odds, he recovered completely.

Grateful for his second life, he made a promise to the Blessed Mother: he would keep his devotion to her and serve the Church faithfully. From then on, Ruben immersed himself in parish life—first with Couples for Christ, then as a lay minister, choir member, and Knight of Columbus. He even portrayed James the Apostle during Lent. Today, he serves wholeheartedly as the passionate president of the barangay pastoral council, leading the very community where his faith once stood on shaky ground.

Ruben’s journey of service began with the Couples for Christ movement. He actively took part in household meetings, where members prayed together, shared life experiences, and discussed matters of faith. Through family enrichment programs, he attended seminars and activities that strengthened both his marriage and family life. He also embraced outreach work, joining various parish activities to help those in need. The Couples for Christ community became a doorway, opening him to a wide range of ministries and deepening his commitment to serve the Church.

Though the more Ruben served and became involved in the Church, the more problems and trials came his way, he remained steadfast and faithful in his mission. When he finally became a lay minister, he remembered his daughter’s request from years ago and proudly told her, “I am now a lay minister. This is how it feels to serve the Lord—an overwhelming joy I never knew until I began serving Him.” With the Blessed Mother at his side, he is determined to spend the rest of his life in service to the Church. And so, on that day when the parish priest publicly thanked him, and a small voice proudly declared, “That’s my dad!”, it was more than just a daughter’s pride—it was living proof of a promise kept, a miracle remembered, and a life transformed by grace.