By Rose Gamier
The community and the whole Diocese of Chalan Kanoa joined the family of the late Bishop Emeritus Tomas P. Camacho, the first bishop of Saipan, as he was finally laid to rest at Mount Carmel Cathedral last Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Many are still in mourning and the outpouring of people who bade him goodbye gave a glimpse of how he had touched people’s lives. He may not have been visibly active in the last few years except during the ordination of Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez, but his contributions and services cannot be forgotten.
I spoke with an elderly local who almost skipped his workshop that morning so he can stop by at the Bishop’s funeral. He may not be a very active parishioner, but he is paying his respects to the island’s first Bishop, remembering him as someone very much opposed to gambling.
Another parishioner shared, “I know him when he used to preach and I find his preaching interesting. When I was a senior in high school, our class was doing fund raising and one of his nephew informed me that he was looking for a group to clean the entire Chalan Kanoa Cemetery. Our class of 1979 accepted the challenge and cut the grass, removed all the garbage and made $400 doing it. After that, it set precedence and he had the entire cemetery cleaned before all souls day. I find him always straightforward and so eager to give sound advice.”
One longtime member of a parish’s choir group described him as strict but very appreciative. She said they were often on their toes whenever the late Bishop would come to their parish to celebrate the mass. He would always come early and they did not want to make any mistakes or embarrass themselves in front of him, She remembers him looking at their choir intently especially when they sing Chamorro songs. And afterwards, he would go to them with a smile and say thank you. She also recalled a time when bereaved families would prepare food each night for the whole nine days of novena, and it was the late Bishop who suggested not to add burden to the family; and if they really wanted to, they can prepare something simple on the ninth day. She realized this desire of not being a burden was also reflected on his request for his own funeral: simple but solemn.
I never had the privilege to know the late Bishop Camacho personally, never had the chance to speak to him. The closest encounter I remember was during the Lenten Season some years back. A Penance service was held at Kristo Rai Parish and, he, along with some clergy, were there to give the sacrament. A friend of mine went to sit on the pew for those who would go to the late Bishop for confession. I decided not to sit next to her. I was looking at each priest checking other queues. Maybe, the thought of approaching the Bishop bear much weight and I feared that I would be given more than the usual penance (I know by saying this, I am doing a confession or am I actually adding to my transgressions?). When we were done, I went to my friend and asked her what it was like to confess to a Bishop. She said, “I was very nervous when my turn came, asking why I went to him when I can’t even fully express myself. I was stammering in my twisted, broken English, not knowing what to say and how to say them. But you know, he listened carefully with a gentle expression on his face as if absorbing and understanding every word I said. He was kind. And I felt good afterwards.”
We have heard many interesting stories about Bishop Tomas Camacho. How he was as a friend, colleague, as a servant of God. I, too, cannot help but shed tears during his funeral mass. I did not have to know him personally to see how he has touched the lives of the many faithful, how he at the bottom of his heart, dedicated his life and served the community and the whole diocese despite many challenges. His journey on earth may have ended, having lived and left it as his Episcopal motto would say, “Fiat voluntas tua.” Indeed, Thy will be done.
Again, to his family and friends, I sincerely extend my prayers and deepest condolences…
Eternal rest, grant unto Him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he joyfully rest in peace. Amen.
On a lighter note, in case you are wondering who I ended up going to for confession at that time, it was to then Rev. Fr. Ryan P. Jimenez – now the Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa.
I should have known that I was confessing to a future Bishop all along…
