Do NO Harm, DO Good, and if you can't do either, Do Nothing"

If I became a Priest,
If I am still a Priest,
If I have been able to do any good at all,
It is all because of God...

I did not choose God. IT WAS GOD WHO CHOSE ME, AND WHO MADE ME HIS PRIEST. GOD.

HE… did it very slowly. Very subtly.

HE did it through the suffering I have seen on the many faces of those in need.

HE did it through the experience of war in Viet Nam, and the terror I felt, and the anger I felt, and the nonsense of mankind harming each other for the sake of ego and greed.

HE did it through me giving last rites to a Grandmother, who was so loved, and that while I gave last rites, I heard in the background, an eleven year old child loudly sobbing.

HE was there, when I looked at a living new born child in my arms, whose name was Sara, that Sara was born with no brain, just the medulla, and HE placed me in front of the child’s sobbing parents in that hospital room, who needed comfort and answers, who wanted to know, "Why?" Why was their baby born like this, why did she have to die, in a few days? Is this God's will?

He taught me' "Do NO Harm, DO Good, and if you can't do either, Do Nothing"

I am a Priest because God wants me to be a Priest.

If I became a Priest, if I am still a Priest, if I have been able to do any good at all, it is all because of God, our wonderful God of compassion and love.

© 2006, Fr. James Koshu Alonzo

Education/Experience:
* Masters Degree in Buddhist Ethics, And Counseling.
* Associate in Business Administration
* Former Licensed Private Investigator, State of Texas and New York.
* Former Erie County Deputy Sheriff-Scientific Staff.
* Former State of Texas Investigator
* Retired asst. Abbott, Hongaku Jodo, Compassionate Lotus Tradition www.hongakujodo.com
* Retired Advisor, and affiliate priest to Chua Tu Hieu Buddhist Temple, Buffalo, New York
* Retired Reverend Canon of Companions of St Thomas (the Apostle) Priesthood http://groups.yahoo.com/group/companionsofsaintthomas/
* Member- International Conference of War Veteran Ministers AKA National Conference Viet Nam Veteran Ministers http://www.warveteranministers.org/
* Member-Volunteer, NODA, (No One Dies Alone Program) Buffalo, NY, VA Hospital

Ministries:
* Frustrated author
* Prison ministry, through correspondence
* Hospital ministry under Kalieda Health System
* Listed for any needs of patients, Death and Dying counseling, personal counseling, both Buddhist and Christian.
* On call for any pastoral emergency.
* Ministry through NODA, (no one Dies Alone ) Program at VA Hospital.

Peace,
Fr. Koshu