TRIBUTE
TO FR. PAOLO ALUTTO CRS

TRIBUTE TO FR. PAOLO ALUTTO, CRS!
Rev. Fr. Paolo Alutto, CRS ACI former Superior, Vice Superior, Financial Officer, College Dean of Studies, Technical Instructor, Radio & AITV5 station manager and faithful servant of God
However, before posting any other I wish to extend to you the sad news that our beloved Fr. Paolo had been ordered by our higher governing body not to return to our community. This had been officially announced to us by our newly elected Provincial Superior, Rev. Fr. Gabriele Scotti, CRS last Saturday morning.
We are religious -- Somascan religious! And part of our consecrated vows is Obedience. The decision is a great blow to us, religious, students, media staff, alumnus and friends of Fr. Paolo here in Sorsogon but we bow our heads in respect to the will of God expressed in the order of our superiors.
On the other hand, we cannot deny that at this moment our hearts are in pain because we have lost a great man, a genius in his craft and a wonderful friend whose joie de vivre is equal to none and whose care for persons is legendary. Aemilianum College, AITV5 and I believe even Sorsogon City is not complete without Fr. Paolo. We are like a mosaic with a missing portion.
For more than 20 years, Fr. Paolo worked as a Somascan missionary in Sorsogon and through the course of the years his mission had borne fruits too great to be counted. He saw through the development of the school from its infancy period until it became a full college with pre-school, elementary, hight school and college department. Out of metal scratch he opened the Aemilianum Radio which still now is the only station that broadcasts the Vatican Radio in the Bicol Region. Out of the same scratch he built the AITV5 bringing the good news to people of Sorsogon for the past 7 years and had provided scholarship and valuable training to numerous poor students of ACI. Today this TV station is still the only one of its kind in the city a poor man's station but rich with the Splendor of God shining through the simplicity of its builder and workers.
I have personally seen people scoff and laugh and deride Fr. Paolo for his works but these people were mere pittance of the greatness of the man. They were like Pharisees laughing at the nothingness of the Apostle from Tarsus yet they themselves are bereft of the treasures that the man had been offering. Fr. Paolo has became for us an apostle of Christ proclaiming the faith through the rooftops [Matthew 10:27] of the ACI building to the antennas of the houses of the entire city and its satellite municipalities. Like St. Paul of Tarsus Fr. Paolo had given us a great treasure in earthen vessels [2 Corinthians 4:7] -- CHRIST THE LORD.
The real greatness of the man, however, is not to be found in his works but in his heart. Fr. Paolo is great not simply because he had accomplished something but because he has loved so much. Look at his photo above, isn't he resembling our founder St. Jerome? Well, looks can be debatable but in the right side of this Blog I had written a caption that the Liturgy had attributed to our founder: "God loves a cheerful giver!" [2 Corinthians 9:7]. This virtue is definitely true to Fr. Paolo as well. That is the essential Paolo Alutto! When he gives -- his time, his efforts, his care, his patience, his understanding and support -- he gives with happiness in his heart.
I might be reprimanded by my superior for writing these words in honor of a living confrere but I'm sure he will understand that love begets love. For someone who has loved much and had given much much reward will be given in return. I WILL NEITHER WAIT FOR THE PAROUSIA TO DO IT NOR FOR THE LIFE HERE AFTER because there is no fear in love and genuine love cast away all fear! [1 John 4:18]. I write these words bearing in mind the Truth that once was spoken: 'TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD'.
I want to echo the words stated by the Cardinal Camerlengo to the College of Cardinals about to elect a new Pope after the demise of the Pastor Angelicus the Servant of God, Pope Pius XII -- 'We thought that he will be with us eternally but heaven has another plan...' We too, thought that Fr. Paolo will be with us eternally. We have grown accustomed to his face, we've grown accustomed to his voice -- like breathing out and breathing in -- he is a second nature to us now... but heaven has another plan.
Fr. Pao, as you journey to your new place of mission we raise our eyes in heaven to say thank you, thank you so much for the gift of those beautiful, wonderful years of being together. My personal regret is that I've been with you only for two years but those two years will be remembered till time gone by.
THANK YOU FR. PAO FOR BEING TO ME A 'PRIEST AND FATHER' [cf. Judges 17:9-10]. THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTY OF FRIENDSHIP THAT TOUCHED THE SOUL AND WARMED THE HEART. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE GLIMPS OF THE KINDNESS OF GOD THROUGH YOUR WONDERFUL PERSON.
Years from now our students will grow grey hairs and will turn old but I'm sure that as they will reminisce the memories of our days they will raise their glass in your memory as we do in the studio today as we plan the program honoring the station's founder. To all our visitors please join us in raising our glass to say: TO FR. PAOLO! AD MULTOS ANNOS! TILL WE MEET AGAIN IN BETTER TIMES!
AITV 5 STAFF