By Catholic San Francisco
A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated May 3 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, as parishioners and clergy gathered to thank God for the gift of life and the blessing of a successful kidney transplant for St. Augustine Catholic Church Pastor Father Raymund Reyes.
The Mass was celebrated by Father Reyes and concelebrated by four priests, including Father Francis Garbo, pastor of Mission Dolores Basilica, whose extraordinary act of generosity made the celebration possible.
After Father Reyes’ kidneys began to fail, Father Garbo donated one of his kidneys on Jan. 20, offering what Father Reyes described as a profound witness of selfless love and Christian charity.
The St. Augustine community came together in gratitude for God’s providence in bringing together a perfect donor match, for Father Garbo’s willingness to give of himself so completely, and for Father Reyes’ continued healing and recovery.
In his homily, Father Reyes reflected on the powerful witness of faith and sacrifice.
“When I was preparing my homily, many thoughts had been racing through my head,” said Fr. Reyes. “Then it dawned on me, why should I bother, when before us up here on the altar, is a living homily. Fr. Francis is a living testimony of God’s love in what he has done for me, especially in what he has witnessed for all of us, by offering not just his time, talent and treasure, but he has given away something indispensable–a part of his body that significantly helps him to live so that someone like me can have a longer and good quality of life.”
Reflecting on his illness and recovery, Father Reyes also spoke about encountering God’s love through suffering.
“Truly my dear friends, God guides us through the events of our life,” he said. “What the world tried to avoid as useless—pain and suffering, chronic illness, rejection—can be the very places where we can grow in the Lord. Yes, God is ever present in our joyful and triumphant moments and especially in our moments of sadness, failure, and disappointments. But it takes a personal encounter with Him, an experience of His love, that will enable us to see His presence in all these moments….what I have experienced profoundly is that God loves me…”
Father Garbo, speaking after the Mass, repeatedly emphasized that the donation was ultimately an act made possible through God’s grace.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit finds joy in God my savior,” Father Garbo said, quoting the words of the Blessed Mother’s Magnificat. “It is not me, but it is God’s. Everything is because of the Lord, because of God’s grace and God’s will.
It is God’s grace and God’s will that I was able to give and share what God has given to me. I am humbled about the privilege to give. It is the Lord. I tell people I am just an ordinary Joe. But God has given me this privilege to give.”
Father Garbo also encouraged those who are suffering not to be afraid to seek help and urged others to respond generously when called to assist those in need.
“For those who are sick, do not be afraid to reach out to others, to tell others your stories,” he said. “And for those who are invited and called to share what they have — prayers, financial help or other things — do not be afraid. Because when God calls you, He will give you the grace in order to give.”
At the conclusion of the Mass, the congregation offered a special prayer for both Father Reyes and Father Garbo. They prayed for Father Reyes’ continued recovery and for God’s blessings upon Father Garbo for his life-giving gift.
