07-06-2026

El pasado día 6 de junio nos dejaba Jesús Lacarra. Tras una enfermedad que ha evolucionado con velocidad, pero sin abandonar su sonrisa, se nos ha ido un gran escolapio misionero quien se ha sentido vivo y activo hasta sus últimos años de vida, que han sido muchos. Damos gracias a Dios por su vida y la alegría y esperanza que nos ha transmitido siempre. 

Selling books, Sharing Christ P. Gerysan Andrino

There are priests who become known because of their titles, achievements, or positions. And then there are priests like Fr. Jesus Lacarra — remembered not because he tried to stand out, but because he quietly gave his life away in service.

A Spanish missionary priest of the Piarist Fathers, Fr. Jesus spent many years in the Philippines serving not from a place of comfort, but from the streets, parish entrances, and everyday encounters with ordinary people. Many would often see him early on Sunday mornings carrying boxes of books and religious articles, navigating the busy roads of Metro Manila with a map in hand. Together with some brother companions, he would go from parish to parish, patiently waiting outside churches with permission from the parish priest, offering spiritual books to churchgoers.

To some, it may have looked like a simple act of selling books. But for Fr. Jesus, it was always more than that.

The books he translated from Spanish to English were close to his heart. He did not want them forgotten on dusty library shelves. He wanted people to read them, reflect on them, and encounter God through them. Through those pages, he introduced many Filipinos to the spirit of the Piarist Fathers, to the life of St. Joseph Calasanz, and to a spirituality deeply devoted to education, the poor, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But perhaps what made people admire Fr. Jesus most was his simplicity.

He never carried himself like someone important. He stood outside churches under the heat of the sun, smiling gently at people who passed by. Some bought books. Others simply stopped to talk. Many approached him asking for prayers. And he welcomed them all with the same warmth and kindness. There was something deeply human about him — approachable, sincere, and quietly joyful.

The money earned from the books and religious articles never went to personal comfort. It was used to help poor scholars in Piarist schools and support seminarians in their religious and academic formation. In many ways, every book sold became part of someone else’s future. Fr. Jesus understood that ministry is not only about preaching inside the church; sometimes it is about helping a child stay in school, supporting a seminarian’s vocation, or simply planting seeds of faith one person at a time.

What made his life beautiful was how ordinary it looked. There were no grand gestures, no desire for recognition, no need to impress. Yet through his quiet dedication, he touched lives. People did not only see a priest selling books — they saw a priest who truly believed in what he was doing. They saw someone who

carried Christ not only in sermons, but in the way he lived, spoke, and treated others.

Fr. Jesus Lacarra reminds us that holiness can look simple. Sometimes, it looks like an aging priest standing patiently outside a church with books in his hands and kindness in his hear

Jesus on Earth: “See You in Heaven”

Among the many missionaries who quietly gave their lives for the Gospel in Asia was Fr. Jesus Lacarra, Sch.P. of Christ the King. Born on October 12, 1932 in Funes, Navarra, Spain, he entered the Piarist novitiate in Pamplona on July 15, 1948 and began his journey in religious life. He made his temporary vows on August 27, 1949, his solemn profession on December 8, 1954, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1955. From then on, his life became a mission completely offered to God, the Church, and the young.

Fr. Jesus became one of the pioneering Piarist missionaries in Japan. At a time when the country was still recovering from the wounds of the Second World War and Christianity remained a small minority, he dedicated himself to rebuilding lives through education, pastoral work, and quiet acts of charity. For many years, he served in Yokkaichi and later spent 36 years in Kaisei, faithfully teaching the young and accompanying people in their spiritual lives.

He once shared:

“I have always tried to draw people closer to Christ, especially children, by helping them grow in the spirit of love and service. During my 36 years in Kaisei, I was involved in many activities such as teaching, Christian Zen experiences, and pastoral works. I also helped organize gatherings and activities, sometimes bringing people to churches and assisting in parish programs and chapel events whenever time allowed.”

These words reflected the kind of missionary he truly was — simple, humble, and deeply rooted in prayer. His mission was never about recognition, but about bringing people closer to Christ. Even after leaving Japan, many of his Japanese

friends continued to call him for spiritual guidance and advice. The lasting connection he built with people revealed the sincerity of his heart and the depth of his faith.

I still remember how, very early in the morning — even before my alarm clock rang — I would hear him repeatedly praying aloud, “Ave Maria,” from his room. Often, while the sky was still dark, he would already be in the chapel of the Juniorate House, quietly praying before the Blessed Sacrament. His zeal for mission came from this hidden life with God. It was a life rooted in prayer. A life completely lived for God.

When the Piarist Fathers formally began their foundation in the Philippines in 1995, Fr. Jesus willingly left Japan after 36 years of mission work to become part of the first missionary team sent to establish the community in Cebu and Manila. Together with his fellow missionaries, he helped lay the foundations of what would later become the Asia Pacific Province of the Piarists. He truly helped “open the road” for the mission in the Philippines.

His contribution, however, was not only pastoral. Fr. Jesus also worked quietly to preserve the history and identity of the Piarist mission in Asia. He translated into English portions of the historical work Escolapios en Japón, making the story of the missionaries in Japan accessible to many people. He also translated books and articles related to Piarist spirituality, identity, and mission. Through this humble work, he helped preserve the memory, sacrifices, and faith of the missionaries who dedicated their lives to Asia.

What made Fr. Jesus especially inspiring was the spirit with which he lived his vocation. I vividly remember accompanying him, together with fellow scholastics, in visiting poor and remote communities in Metro Manila to help families in difficult situations. Recently, while speaking with him for this article, he joyfully recalled those experiences despite his breathing difficulties. With gratitude and simplicity, he said:

“In all these experiences, I felt that it was the children and the people I served who ultimately led me closer to Christ. Through serving them, I learned to live more freely and simply for God.”

Missionary life is never easy. It asks for patience, sacrifice, cultural openness, and a lifetime of hidden service. Fr. Jesus embodied all these qualities. He belonged to that generation of missionaries who crossed oceans not for comfort or recognition, but simply to proclaim Christ, serve the young, and strengthen the local Church.

Today, the flourishing presence of the Piarists in Japan and the Philippines remains part of his legacy. Every vocation encouraged, every student formed, every community strengthened, and every missionary inspired carries traces of his quiet and faithful labor.

Fr. Jesus Lacarra lived a life that pointed others to Christ. Many who encountered him saw not only a missionary or a priest, but a man deeply united with God. Truly, for many people, he became “Jesus” on earth.

See you in heaven, Fr. Jesus. May your life continue to inspire future generations of Piarists to give themselves generously for the Gospel.

On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 1:28 PM Aldrin Carlo Perez <acperezschp27@gmail.com> wrote: