Mistaken identity
By Paddy Phalen
April 2000
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When Georgina and I first arrived in Guyana at the invitation of Scarboro missionary Fr. Ken MacAulay, we lived in the presbytery for the first three months. After a short time, the people here were calling us Father and Sister. They persisted, even after we explained to them that we were a married couple.
About a month after our arrival, Fr. Ken was recalled to Canada and Fr. Russ Sampson, his replacement, left for the Bahamas to attend a regional meeting of Scarboro missionaries.
Part of our instructions during his absence included giving 70 Guyanese dollars to old Charlie (God rest his soul) who was blind. Fr. Russ showed me how I was to place three $20 dollar coins, one beside the other, in Charlie’s right hand. Charlie would then transfer the coins to his left hand. Then I was to place the $10 coin in his right hand, again the transfer to the left hand. Everything was simple enough and I was sure that I could handle the task.
A few days later, I answered a knock on the door and lo and behold there stood Charlie on a lower step looking up at me from under a baseball cap. “I come for my money, Father,” he said. No problem, I was thinking as I went inside to pick up the already sorted coins. I religiously placed the coins in his hand as I was instructed to do and he transferred them over as I was told he would do.
With the task done and me standing there all proud of myself, Charlie took his cap off and remained with his head bowed. “Is everything okay?” I asked. “My blessing, Father,” he said.
I turned very pale and with a “Just a minute” to Charlie, rushed back into the house saying to Georgina: “He thinks that I’m Fr. Russ and wants a blessing. What do I do now?”
A quick conversation ensued and it was decided that if he thought I was Father that I certainly couldn’t disappoint him. I went back out, inwardly begging the Holy Spirit to give me the words. Using my most solemn voice, I placed my hand on his stubbled grey hair and gave a blessing. Even though I can’t remember the words I said, it was sufficient for old Charlie. He replaced his cap on his head and went happily on his way.
God loves us all
By Georgina Phalen
You never know how God will surprise you. One day while I was coming home, I was stopped by a young man who is a guard at Demico, our local fast food place. He asked if Paddy and I had any books he could borrow.
“Sure,” I replied. “What do you like to read?”
“Positive thinking books,” he said.
After telling him I’d check what we had, he asked where Paddy was. I told him that Paddy was working at the church. He asked what church we went to and I said the Catholic church.
He jumped away from me. “I hate Romans,” he said.
Laughing, I waved my hand and said, “That’s okay. God loves us all.”
He went off and I was having a quiet chuckle at his reaction. A few weeks later Paddy and I were at Demico’s waiting for our order and this same young man came to our table.
“Good afternoon,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about what you said and that’s right, God loves us all. Even if we go to different churches, we all serve the same God.”
We agreed with him.
Fr. Linus Wall awaits the ferry at the stelling (from the Dutch word for wharf) in Rosignol, Guyana. The ferry is a common mode of transportation for people in Guyana (known as the Land of Many Rivers).
At 80 years of age, Fr. Wall continues to pastor the people of Fatima, a large parish in Georgetown. Having lived in Guyana since 1955, he is the recognized pioneer of Scarboro’s present mission team there. With his vast experience, he serves as a valuable advisor to newcomers and consultant to Bishop Benedict Singh, Guyana’s only bishop.
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