The Transfer

THE TRANSFER Bienvenido N. Santos

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Mr. Conrado Arabia - old government employee, chairman of the CAC for the past 5 years. Father Simplicio Ruivivar - a parish priest from nearly half century. Bishop

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Bishop's Palace Cathedral Church Bishop's Office

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At the meeting, of the local Catholic Action Committee held on Sunday morning at the bishop's palace after the high mass, Mr. Conrado Arabia mentioned casually the need or practical retirement system for the church. They also met to discuss about the final details on welcoming for the 1st bishop of the diocese who will be residing in the town. Mr. Arabia suggested the need for retirement system for the priest especially for the Fr. Simplicio Ruivivar because of his old age, that had been parish priest nearly half century. He refused to acknowledge what was obvious. Fr. Ruivivar happen to stop the course of the mass, he just cant go on and only stand up there no matter how long it is. The CAC handed an amount to Fr. Rruivivar to buy the much needed pews of the ruined church. They suggested that a local furniture maker will do the job, but the old priest had his own plan and ordered the pews from an out of town carpenter. The committee saw the pews huge, oversized that are like for giants.

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When the day came, they gave magnificent welcome for the bishop. The papal nuncio let the visiting church dignitaries by himself. Even Mr. Arabia was very busy , every time he saw Fr. Ruivivar he remembered what had been discussed at the meeting.

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The parishioners learned to love the human ways of the bishop. His simplicity, understanding, wonderful listener and got things done. After a year, no one had come to him about fr. Ruivivar. the church had been rebuilt and developed. But still the parish priest is there.

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Fr. Ruivivar seemed eager they were caustic, often violent. He read lengthy pastoral letters, scolds his parishioners openly, single out women who wore short sleeved dresses and low necklines, and the "devil hairdo" teen ager has.

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Mr. Arabia found himself avoiding the masses of the priest because of the situation.

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Mr. Arabia went to the Bishop's office to hand the letter about the replacement of their parish priest. But the day almost ends, he didn't had the strength to gave the letter until Fr. Ruivivar came.

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The Bishop said to the priest that he will be send in Malabo a beautiful to stay. After the conversation the old man had a frozen expression. He stayed for a while in front of the altar, after that he went in the room with Mr. Arabia.

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"Good night", Mr. Arabia said, he went to the door to leave, but before that the old man raised his head and asked Mr. Arabia: "Is it the end of the month? I'm going alone? So, I'm not going along. You're young. Look at your hands".

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Mr. Arabia moved to meet him, cried and hugged him. Suddenly he wasn't aware of the bloated body and an odd