Fr. THomas Green during his younger days
Today, both Jesuits and the San Jose Seminary are grieving. It has lost one of their best, the beloved Fr. Thomas Green, SJ, a friend to me and to thousand others as well. He succumbed to his illness. He was 76 years old. He died at about 10:00 am.
His directees would remember him as a loving old man who would be with them and listen to their God-experience. As a spiritual director, he would co-discern with them and would interpret God’s communication to the directee. He would be with them at the seminary lobby and listeto them.
For me I remember him plainly as a friend. He was not my spiritual director but I always go to his room and from there, he would tell his plans and stories. He told me stories about his family, his masses in the parishes, his friends, his directees and many more.
The memories he has left me as a friend is immense. He inspired me to be a better person. His life as a priest is extraordinary. Prior to his hospital admission, he would celebrate masses at Balara, Pentecost, and many other religious houses. He would still hold classes after that…
I idolize him. I wish to say more things about him. Good things, but I am restricted because I might be driven to tears. For those who searched Fr. Tom’s name and found this, you may have stories about him. Please share them.
Here are the schedules:
March 13-18,2009: Mass @ 8pm, San Jose Seminary
March 19, 2009: Mass and Burial 8am, Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University
Condolences! Fr Tom was also SD and professor, and a wonderful friend to me too. The last time I saw him was when we invited him to Singapore for a seminar for novices and he also spoke to our Pauline Cooperators.
yeah. there were lots of fsp sisters in the seminary this morning.
I felt the same and was shocked and grieved when I found out. The sadness is still there, but also the thought that to have known him was a great gift. He was a penfriend for over two decades.
But we who have been fortunate enough to have known him have his wise advice, to try to put into practise as he would have wished, and we can hope that his solicitude will be with us from the invisible world, and that we might have the chence to meet him when our time comes!
Fr Tom, you were the best of the best. Be our good brother and continue to pray for us!
Yeah… And “don’t forget to pray for the old man.”