Fr. Francis Vernon G. Douglas (May 22, 1910 - July 27, 1943)
78 years after the gruesome death of Fr. Francis Vernon Douglas in the Philippines, his name continues to reverberate and to be remembered in the local Church of New Zealand, whose faithful regard him with deep affection and considers him a source of inspiration because of his dedicated life as a missionary and his heroic death. Many New Zealanders have long thought that his heroic death was a martyrdom that should be recognized officially by the Church.
As a matter of fact, the story of Fr. Douglas has entered into the traditions of New Zealand Catholicism. He is honored for his steadfast devotion to his religious duties, and stands with Mother Mary Joseph Aubert and Emmet Mchardy as one of the local Church’s three great inspirational models.
As a testimony of the high regard New Zealand Catholics have for this great priest, a boys’ Secondary School was named Francis Douglas Memorial College in 1959 in New Plymouth, where he began his priestly ministry in 1934 to commemorate this great missionary priest.
Early Years in New Zealand
Francis Vernon Douglas (1910 – 1943), the fifth of eight children of Kathleen Gaffney, a devout Catholic of Irish descent and George Charles Douglas, an Australian-born railway worker who became a Catholic in 1926, was born on May 22, 1910 in Johnsonville, near Wellington, New Zealand.
Vernon, as he was fondly called, was brought up in a close, lively, working class family. Tall, robust, dark-haired, sport-loving, strong-minded, a good singer and possessing a fine sense of social and religious duties, Vernon exhibited various attractive traits.
Most of his schooling were spent in the local Johnsville School except for the two years he spent at the Marist Brothers’ School in Thorndon from 1921 – 1922. In 1924, at the age of 14, he finished school and by 1925, was hired as a messenger at the Post and Telegraph Department. Beginning of a Missionary Journey
In 1927, he entered Holy Cross Seminary at Mosgiel and commenced formation for the priesthood. The seminary rector, Fr. C. J. Morkane, later described Vernon as an exemplary student. He was ordained priest at St. Joseph’s Church in Wellington on October 29, 1934 by Archbishop Thomas O’Shea. His eldest brother had already entered religious life as a Marist and an elder sister entered the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Sydney.
A few months after his ordination at the end of 1934, he felt called towards missionary life and became interested to join the Columbans. His discernment brought him to Australia in 1936 where he was to train for a year in the Columban Seminary in Melbourne.
After his training in Australia, he was assigned to Manila late in 1938. He stayed for a few weeks in Morong, Rizal where he soon learned the Tagalog language and assimilated the customs of the Filipinos before heading to his first parish assignment in Pililla, a small struggling lakeside town in the province of Rizal, east of Mania. A half-ruined church and a dilapidated presbytery welcomed him in Pililla. The conditions were harsh, and the people were poor. Due to religious indifference, the number of practicing Catholics was small.
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| Dioesan Shrine and Parish of St. Mary Magdalene, |
When the Pacific War broke out and the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Manila in January 1942, his difficulties increased and his situation became more complicated. The Japanese were at first tolerant of the expatriate Christian missionaries who stayed in their posts, but they became less forbearing after the Allied Forces’ counter-attack on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in August of 1942. Three-day Reign of Terror
On July 25, 1943, the people were eagerly looking forward to the annual fiesta in honor of St. James the Apostle, Paete town’s patron. However, the peace and tranquility of the town, crowded with visitors, was abruptly interrupted when the Japanese Imperial Forces decided to zone off the area and nobody was allowed to leave. All males from age fourteen upwards were rounded up and incarcerated in the centuries-old parish church. The Japanese were seeking out guerillas and their collaborators who were operating in the nearby mountains. For several days some 250 men were interrogated and tortured, deprived of sleep and mercilessly beaten until they gave information or died.
Among those who were tortured was Fr. Douglas who was suspected to be a foreign spy and was placed under surveillance by the Japanese military for two years. He was arrested on an earlier date, on July 23. They took him from Pililla to Paete for interrogation. He was brought to the Church of St. James the Apostle where he was tied to a pillar inside the church and for three consecutive days, from July 25, he was tortured and savagely beaten trying to extort information about the guerillas whose confessions he may have heard. He has also been accused of spying for the resistance forces. Unwilling to divulge confidences or to break the seal of the confessional, he refused to answer questions and remained silent throughout the ordeal. He did not utter a single word. Instead, he kept his eyes on the altar and continued to recite the rosary. Finally, feeling that his end could be near, he asked for the local parish priest to hear his confession which was done in the presence of his torturers, lest they later force the confessor to break the seal of confession.
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| St. James the Apostle Parish, Paete, Laguna |
On the evening of July 27, 1943, Fr. Douglas, weak but still conscious, and guarded by Japanese soldiers, was taken on a truck towards Sta. Cruz, Laguna. That was the last time he was to be seen alive, never to be found again.
His suffering left a deep impression on the townsfolk. People realized that here was a strong and brave man who silently suffered three days and nights of horrific torture in order not to betray his friends and the information that might have been confided to him in confession.
Martyr of the Seal of Confession
After the liberation of the Philippines in 1944, the Columbans began documenting his story. What surfaced was a picture of a priest, aged 33, who could have died as a martyr, having demonstrated outstanding priestly fidelity especially in keeping the Seal of Confession.
His heroic death in the service of others soon reached his homeland and the Church in New Zealand continues to honor Fr. Douglas’ memory by re-telling his story.
The Missionaries of St. Columban lost many priests during the war, but Fr. Douglas’ death is remarkable because his arrest and interrogation were documented and verified by others present. The Japanese military thought they had caught a spy and were determined to extract whatever information Fr. Douglas could have knowledge of about the American soldiers operating in the nearby mountains.
It was noted that he refused to divulge whatever information he may have had and his replies indicated that he was protecting the seal of the confessional.
Official information gathered in 1945 was verified by witnesses in 1995 who were present in the Church with Fr. Douglas during the torture and interrogation in 1943. Among them was retired Colonel Frank Quesada, now living in the United States, who was present at Fr. Douglas’ torture, and his account was identical to the information recorded in 1945.
Fr. Douglas was vividly remembered by all who witnessed his last days. His death had a powerful impact on all who knew him. He was a source of strength and inspiration to them as they suffered during the three day reign of terror.
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| The post of the choir loft where Fr. Douglas was tied |
One might ask, “Why was Fr. Douglas singled out for such horrible torture? Did he refuse to talk in order to preserve the seal of confession or information held in confidence?” As he was interrogated in Pililla before he was brought to Paete, neighbors heard him remonstrate with the military police, “You have no right to ask me that question, and I cannot, in conscience, answer it.” Whatever reason, one thing is certain: here was a strong and brave man who suffered in silence, rather than to betray his friends. Savior of a Town
An early report published in December 1945 in “The Far East”, the magazine of the Columbans in Ireland stated: “What Fr. Douglas suffered in Paete made a deep impression on the people of the town. The Filipinos say that he seemed to be like our Lord himself, as he stood there, tied to the post in the Church, constantly beaten and ill-treated but always with unquestionable patience. They expressed the belief that what he suffered made him a kind of a savior of the town.” From the time he was brought there, no more Filipino received any ill treatment. On him were concentrated all the anger and hatred of the Japanese soldiers.
An annual pilgrimage to remember Fr. Francis Vernon Douglas is held on the feast day of St. James, every July 25, the presumed date of Fr Douglas’ death. The pilgrimage visits St Mary Magdalene Parish in Pililla, Rizal 59 kilometers from Manila, and then continues around the Laguna De Bay to the parish of St James at Paete, Laguna where Father Douglas was tortured in 1943.
Today, as Pope Francis authorized the introduction of a new process to the cause for beatification and canonization, the “offer of life” it is hoped that Fr. Frank will be among those to be recognized in that path towards sainthood, and may eventually become the first Columban and New Zealand saint.
Prayer for the Promotion of the Cause of Fr. Francis Vernon Douglas
Heavenly Father we join together with the people of New Zealand and of the Philippines
who are praying for the promotion of the Cause of Fr Francis Vernon Douglas SSC.
We are inspired by his example of heroic faith, courage and commitment to the Gospel.
We pray in confidence that by his example we will be inspired to do likewise and
live the call of Jesus as peacemakers, promote nonviolence and love of our enemies.
May the Holy Spirit move the hearts and minds of the Church and proclaim
Fr Francis Vernon Douglas as witness of the faith. Amen.
Mother Mary... Pray for us.
St James the Apostle... Pray for us.
St Mary Magdalene... Pray for us.
Sources:
“Douglas, Francis Vernon” retrieved from https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5d23/douglas-francis-vernon on July 27, 2020.
“Father Francis Vernon Douglas” retrieved from https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/adw_welcom/father-francis-vernon-douglas/ on July 26, 2020.
“Fr. Francis Vernon Douglas” retrieved from https://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/2020/03/01/father-francis-vernon-douglas/ on July 27, 2020.
“Here was a Strong and Brave Man” retrieved from http://misyononline.com/sep-oct2013/here-was-strong-and-brave-man on July 28, 2020.
Photos: CTTO
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