No slowing down for Fr. Reuter at 92

MANILA, Philippines – Fr. James Reuter, icon of Catholic mass media in the country, turned 92 years old yesterday, but the Jesuit priest shows no sign of slowing down.

In an interview at the National Office for Mass Media (NOMM), Reuter said he wants to keep on working because he feels that God has yet to reveal his true mission in life.

“The way God’s providence works, I expect that God has been preparing me for something that has not yet (happened). I think something very big is coming up,” he said.

But while waiting for God’s plan to unfold, he wants to keep himself busy. He excitedly talked about the latest projects he is working on.

He has been commissioned by Family Rosary Crusade (FRC) to do the script and direct the television program on the life story of his old friend, Fr. Patrick Peyton, entitled “The Virgin Mary and Her Irish Son.”

Asian actors, led by Cocoy Laurel who will portray Fr. Peyton, will be cast in the production.

Father Reuter believes Laurel fits the role of Fr. Peyton, because like the Irish priest the actor is a perfectionist, humble and sensitive. The only difference is that Laurel is short while Fr. Peyton is tall.

“The movie starts from his (Fr. Peyton’s) birth and ends with his death. I am the best one to do that because I have been with him longer than any other living man. We began working together at close range in 1947 when I was still in a radio station,” he said. 

FRC officials are coming to preview the movie, which will be completed on June 7. Fr. Reuter said they still have 12 scenes to shoot and edit the film. They will be working during the three remaining Saturdays just to beat the deadline.

The FRC is hoping that they would be able to promote their founder’s canonization. They are planning to send the script and video to schools and parishes so that students and parishioners could watch it. They are also hoping that it would be shown in other countries as well.

Another project lined up for Fr. Reuter is a script for the stage play on the 100th anniversary of St. Paul University.

He said he is not about to retire. “It has always been a pleasure for me. The great gift that God has given to me is that I have always liked everything I was given to do.”

But his caregiver of three years, Cecil Cabot, said Fr. Reuter’s busy schedule is against his doctor’s orders. Since she personally took care of him, the priest had been confined in hospital at least once a year.

Fr. Reuter, who still walks aided by a cane, is still recovering from pneumonia, has a heart problem and has been diagnosed with edema in his legs.

Because of this, the staff at the NOMM has decided to arrange less stressful and fewer birthday celebrations for him.

Last Tuesday evening, the “Reuter Babies,” or those who used to act in his stage plays, hosted a birthday party for him at the Corinthian Gardens Clubhouse.

At noontime yesterday, Fr. Reuter officiated Mass at Xavier House in Sta. Ana, Manila and entertained friends and former members of the Ateneo Glee Club who greeted him on his birthday. Present were Noel Trinidad and Subas Herrero.

When asked how he feels to be 92 years old, Fr. Reuter said, “It feels very good. As you grow older, you discover that the most valuable (thing) that anybody has is a friend. I have many good friends who have been with me for more than 50 years.”

Once a week he submits an article to The Philippine STAR for his column “At 3:00 a.m.” He is also the director of the NOMM, vice president of the TV Maria Foundation, executive director of the Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters.

Although he was born and raised in America, he considers himself a Filipino. In 1984 he was made an honorary citizen of the Philippines by unanimous vote of both Houses of Congress. In 1988, he received the United Nations Decade Award for his distinguished Lifetime Service to Philippine Culture.

On May 21, 2006, he received the Order of Lakandula, with the title “Bayani” given by President Arroyo.

He is also a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for journalism and creative communication arts in 1989. In 1995 he was given the Chino Roces Award for public service, and in January 1997, the Vatican granted him the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award for his service to the Church and to the Holy Father.  – Louise Guevarra