Fr. James B. Reuter was always that, a hands-on Jesuit priest with a focus on what was the matter at hand. The first time I met him he was casting another Jesuit’s original play,

Fr. Horacio dela Costa’s “A Woman of the House.” He drew the players from two schools—Assumption and Ateneo. It was a play with three acts, many scenes, ranging from Philippine prehistory to contemporary times. It had war scenes, dancing, singing, emoting, music. Aside from breaking ground by putting two genders on the same stage in an era where it was usually one playing both in either boys’ or girls’ schools, he managed the novelty easily by being organized, authoritative, and driven. From there, everyone took their cue and the play was a memorable success of religious teaching, history lessons and Philippine identity.

Father Reuter was a man of many parts. He was a sports buff and coach. He wrote short stories. He had musical talent that led him to start the Ateneo Glee Club and take it from success to success. And he was a mesmerizing teacher who became a sought after Retreat Master.

All of these made him an influence in many Catholic schools of the country from Naga to Manila.
He connected with students who regarded him as a spiritual father, a life adviser, and an influential friend. And this was because no matter what he was doing, from teaching, to coaching, from directing plays to conducting the glee club, he was an example of the God-centered individual doing his mission on earth. He was practical and spiritual and approachable. And he could communicate these aspects readily and successfully.

That in later times he took over the communications arm of the Catholic hierarchy of this country was just the culmination of his talents in the arts and in teaching. He did very well as a communicator of official church positions, gently and unobtrusively, without stirring negative passions and hostile reactions. Yet he was clear on message.

His rapport with the young never waned. His circle of students who turned into adults never forgot him, sought him out for counsel in the various stages of their life’s journey and were influenced by his example throughout.

He seemed to be the same persona no matter how many decades of life he piled up. He was always the Jesuit priest in the white cassock, the athletic teacher, the enthusiastic play director. He knew individuals of all walks of life but the young were always his field of concentration and that made him a teacher of many subjects, literal and figurative.

His identity with the Philippines was total and committed. He came as a young teacher and seminarian before World War II, was imprisoned as an enemy in Japanese concentration camps in that war. Characteristically, he managed to put up plays, entertainments and other activities to while away the prison days. Later on, he would write about the experience. But he never forgot his country, the United States of America or his family from New Jersey where he was born and grew up going to Catholic schools. He always referred to his youth and family, his friends and influences in many ways from his anecdotes, to his homilies, to his memoirs. His enduring values came from there.

His Philippine identity made him very aware, very concerned and very active in helping the large number of poverty-stricken Filipinos. In this mission, he encouraged and assisted the young to improve themselves through education and hard work with the inspiration that they too were children of a God who cared. He always said that the Philippines and Filipinos taught him much which he incorporated into his values. His example was recognized with numerous awards and citations culminating in honorary Filipino citizenship by Act of Congress. But what stands out is how many others follow in his footsteps. He has a whole army of disciples doing what he did in multiplying effect from hospitals to medical missions, from teaching and communicating, to religious vocations. Indeed, his influence has gone beyond borders. His death this week was God’s summons that he had done his duty and more in life and that it was time to join a higher calling, fulfilled and rested. We see many who will take his place, inspired and influenced by Father Reuter.

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