After 47 years of marriage, Emily and Tito Farrales decided it was time to make an even greater commitment to helping others.
“Some people say in retirement that they’re bored, and I asked my husband, ‘How can they be bored?’ ” said Emily, 77. “There are so many things to do.”
Doing things for this couple, parishioners of St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax, means reaching out to those in need. A year ago they became extraordinary ministers to bring the Eucharist to the homebound.
“Father (Thomas T.) Nguyen (parochial vicar of St. Leo) mentioned that we needed some people, and as events happened, we just stepped in,” said Tito, 75. “Priests really need a hand because they’re so busy and they need help to extend the Eucharist to others. We are helping to make sure that no one is left behind. You’re bringing Jesus to someone. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
It never occurred to them that their devotion to serving others was anything special. Their faith was defined by service growing up in the Philippines and has continued throughout their marriage.
“In the Philippines, you have to go house to house,” said Emily. “Here in America, we have nursing homes so we can help more people in one visit and we also pray the rosary every Wednesday at the nursing home.”
Emily and Tito perform their duties while also caring for the 44-year-old daughter Vicky, who has Down syndrome.
“In addition to their generous tithing, they have sent financial donations to the Philippines to assist during natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons,” said Jim Engelhardt, a parishioner of St. Leo. “They prepare meals for the poor, for priests, and on occasion, help specific families in financial distress. They do it all with incredible humility, open hearts and a spirit of living and serving in a way that God intended.”
Every Sunday, they head out after Mass to bring the Eucharist to three to five homebound parishioners. “We pray before we go to make sure everything is right and every time we go it is powerful because you’re bringing Jesus to them,” said Tito.
The awesome responsibility of serving Communion to the homebound hit Tito last fall when he served a parishioner who was alone in his final days. “He told me that he was preparing to die and it struck me that this man really wanted to be close to Jesus every day,” said Tito. “When he passed away, I thought, ‘His wish was fulfilled now.’ ”
Sanctifying each day in service to others and in obedience to God is not only the best way to retire, said Emily, it’s the sure-fire antidote to boredom. “Give back to God and you’ll never say, ‘I’m bored and I have nothing to do,’ ” she said. “I always tell friends, ‘Join the Legion of Mary (a worldwide lay apostolic foundation).’ There’s always apostolic work to do.”
Tito wants other retirees in search of a higher purpose to know that more extraordinary ministers are needed to bring Jesus to the homebound. “Aside from just going to Mass every Sunday, this is a great way of being good to your neighbor,” he said. “It is so fulfilling.”
