The members of THE PRAYER WARRIORS OF THE HOLY SOULS (PWHS) join the whole world and Christendom in particular, in mourning the demise of the Holy Father. In our temporary orphaned state, we are consoled by the thought that our beloved JOHN PAUL II will reap the reward that awaits a true and faithful son of the Heavenly Father.

+ Pope John Paul II l 1920 -2005

We also find consolation in the thought that soon, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the vacuum in leadership left by JOHN PAUL II will soon be filled-up by the election of a new pope by the conclave of cardinals.

JOHN PAUL II is a tough act to follow. His twenty-seven years as head of the Catholic Church will prove to be an inimitable act to follow. An indefatigable traveler, he tried to reach out to as many members of his flock as he could, by traveling 104 times abroad. Not one to be swayed by the growing permissiveness of an agitated world, he was as firm as a rock in his traditional views on abortion, contraception, same-sex marriage, and female clergy. Not one to be cowed by controversies, he was like a gladiator in the Roman arena, emerging victorious, standing tall.

His love for his flock was a given fact, but his love for the youth was legend. He was known to be energized by their presence and their tremendous show of affection for him. It is also a well-known fact that he had a special place in his heart for the Philippines, the biggest Catholic nation in the biggest continent of the world.

As we witnessed the awesome funeral rites of His Holiness especially in the Eucharistic Celebration, one could not help but appreciate the two promises of our Lord, made manifest in that momentous occasion: "I will be with you always", as He makes Himself available to one and all in Holy Communion (imagine 500 priests giving communion to the throng of people in attendance). And the other is the promise of eternal life, as one looks forward to that day when we shall all return and be reunited with our Heavenly Father, like JOHN PAUL II.

The office of the PWHS made immediate arrangements for the celebration of a set of Gregorian masses for the repose of the soul of our beloved pope upon learning of his demise – just to make sure of his unimpeded reunion with Abba Father.