By Msgr. Francisco G. Tantoco, Jr.
Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. considered the Knights of Columbus as a university where men’s character could be molded for the greater honor and glory of God.
I first met Father Willmann in 1948 at the hall of Regina building, Escolta,Manila. I was only nine years old then and a grade four pupil at the Ateneo in Ermita,Manila. As a young boy, I had no idea the slightest that the man behind those gathering of Knights and their children inReginaBuildingwould later greatly influence my life, my mission, my vocation.
In 1962, we organized GOMBURZA Council 5310, Brixton Hill,Quezon City, and I became its Charter Grand Knight. Then came 1964 when Father Willmann asked me to serve as Executive Director of the Knights of Columbus Community Services, Inc. (KCCS) which was involved in economic upliftment of farmers and in the establishment of Credit Unions and Cooperatives. I had to resign from my five-year old lucrative job as result engineer at MERALCO in favor of this assignment with lesser compensation but with greater fulfillment.
In 1968 Father Willmann appointed me to the position of National Secretary of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines, vice Antonio Giron, Sr. All along, during my incumbency as National Secretary and at the same time Executive Director of KCCS, Father Willmann served as my private tutor in my ecclesiastical studies relative to my on-and-off desire to become a priest.
Father Willmann, being an open-minded person, permitted me in 1969 to take a special course on Theology at the East Asian Pastoral Institute. This study, plus the previous personal, informal tutoring of Father Willmann and Bishop Godofredo Pedernal of the Diocese of Borongan, led to my ordination as subdeacon, deacon and finally as priest towards the closing part of 1969.
With my 29 years of close association with Father Willmann, I could say with candidness that he exemplified par excellence the supernatural virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, as well as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Words, however, could never approximate the description of his saintly virtues.
Man of Detachment
Suffice it to say here that Father Willmann was a man of detachment. He lived a truly Spartan life, deprived of all unnecessary luxuries and comforts, and yet keeping his whole being strong, active and disciplined in the service of God and humanity. He could have survived for days eating biscuits or peanuts alone. His clothes were few and worn-out. He had not bothered to change his worn-out socks and a pair of ancient leather shoes, one of which was punctured with a hole. His iron bed in La Ignaciana had no cushion nor foam on it but only a mat (“banig”). The only prized possession he always carried with him were an old leather briefcase, a pair of eye glasses (mounted on a cheap plastic frame), a wrist-watch of unknown brand, a rosary and a breviary. He always gave away gifts given to him.
Man of Humility
One outstanding virtue of Father Willmann was his humility. He abhorred all external display of wealth and power. He never claimed any credit nor sought any form of recognition for whatever good he had done for the Church and community. In his own simple ways, he exemplified humility at its purest form. This he wanted inculcated in the Knights of Columbus.
Man Open to Change
Father Willmann was one man who could read the signs of the times. Every five to ten years he would bring up the question of whether it was time for the K of C in thePhilippinesto be independent of its American parent. He also conducted regular surveys of seminarians (future priests) in order to find out their objections to the K of C. To him, the organization’s main objective was to lead men to God and if a better one came along, thanks be to God.
Man of Few Words
As a man of few words, Father Willmann would always prefer to work silently. He was not inclined to give long speeches. His talks were short but straight to the point and always focused on spirituality and on the plight of the poor, the underprivileged.
Man of Compassion
As a man of compassion, Father Willmann had always an open door to anyone wanting his help. He had always something to part with to a beggar, a sick person, a widow, a brother knight in distress, a poor priest. He conducted charitable and medical services (distributed food stuffs and medicines) to the squatters of Intramuros and other areas.
It was not surprising then why Father Willmann did not want the American traditional use of extravagant and expensive K of C 4th Degree uniform. For him, what is far more important is to bring more Knights of Columbus, regardless of their economic status, closer to God.
Man of Obedience & Respect for Ecclesiastical Authorities
As a man of obedience, Father Willmann had that inner grace of accepting, without slightest whimper, whatever admonition or instruction from ecclesiastical authority.
Father Willmann once learned that Bishop Cornelio De Wit of the Diocese of Antique had some dissatisfaction with the local Knights of Columbus. Father Willmann immediately asked me to personally visit the good bishop to find out what was the matter. To a large extent, the simple gesture of courtesy, respect and obedience of Father Willmann to the Catholic hierarchy solved most amicably many problems of bishops and priests with the local Knights.
Man of Hard Work up to the End
Old age did not deter Father Willmann from the performance of his duties. In spite of his Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and other ailments, he reported daily for work at the K of C headquarters in Intramuros,Manila. Employees were daily witnesses of the silent sufferings of Father Willmann as he would enter the main door every morning, walking slowly, with hands trembling, towards his office. Father Willmann never complained of his ailments. He kept the pain to himself.
Father Willmann went home to God on Sept. 14, 1977. No doubt his death was a great loss to our Church, our country, the Jesuit community and the Knights of Columbus organization. But he left us a legacy for all of us to cherish and live up to amidst our present times, punctuated with growing secularism, political unrest, greed, dishonesty, and deceit. This legacy was the story of his own life.
