A SERVANT OF GOD
It was the 11th of June 1999, in a solemn ceremony held at the Manila
Cathedral, when Cesar S. Calma was ordained as a permanent Deacon by
Bishop Teodoro Bacani. It was well attended by family, relatives and
friends. A great achievement indeed for a man who works as Senior
Cardiovascular Technologist at Hamad Hospital in Doha-Qatar since 1984;
a married man and a father to three wonderful children.
Deacon Cesar witnessed the growing stage of the Catholic Church in Doha.
In his early years in Qatar, he experienced the difficulties in the
observance of religious practices and setting-up the parish
organizations. He was much involved with the very first organized choir
composed of Filipinos in 1987. It was the time when masses were finally
celebrated in a much bigger venue called the American School. He became
an active member of the Music Ministry and later served as chairman of
The Lord’s Choir (TLC). Conducting seminars to enhance their musical
prowess in line with the ideals and values of the Gospel was one of his
jobs. He was later entrusted the sacred duty of administering Holy
Communion to the members in the absence of a priest.
Fr. John Van Deerlin noticed his active participation in church
activities, the then Parish Priest. Hence, when the parish instituted
the group of Eucharistic Ministers, he was chosen as one of the first to
be installed. In 1990, he was commissioned as a Special Minister of the
Holy Eucharist, a noble duty administering Holy Communion and performing
the liturgy of the Word. Five years later he became head of the
Eucharistic Ministry. It gave him the opportunity to implement new ideas
and conduct seminars for aspirants of the Holy Ministry by developing
training programs with the approval of the Catholic Mission in Doha Qatar.
His wholehearted dedication to his ministry was a great relief to the
lone priest in Doha in those days. His organizational skills were put to
use when he was given the task of scouting for prospective places to
celebrate Holy Mass, appoint lectors, readers, altar servers and choir.
With his able support to the Parish Priest, Holy Masses reached other
areas out of Doha and core groups were established in locations, which
would regularly organize the celebration of Holy Mass. As a commissioned
lay minister, he used to officiate the paraliturgical celebration of the
Holy Eucharist in many places. < BR> In 1997, the Catholic Mission of
Qatar witnessed the growth of Catholic expatriates’ number in the
country and saw the need for another priest. However, it was difficult
to bring in a priest because of government restrictions. Ordaining a
layperson to the diaconate came up as a solution to the situation. The
parish priest sensing Cesar’s vocation encouraged him to become a
permanent Deacon. Like a humble servant he readily said ‘yes’ to the
call and was sent to England for studies at the Permanent Diaconate
Training Program under the tutelage of Rev. Fr. Timothy Finigan, the
director of studies, for a two-year special program. His equally
religious wife supported him in his decision so with his growing
children. He finished the training course in a very strenuous manner
taking into account the special arrangement to take the course in two
con secutive weeks each year for two years that was in 1997 and 1998.
June 11th of the year of our Lord 1999 was a glorious day for Cesar S.
Calma, knowing that his family, relatives, friends and even the angels
and saints in heaven were rejoicing on that celebrated day. He was
ordained as the first Filipino permanent Deacon and the first in the
Arabian Gulf Mission at the historical Roman Catholic Cathedral of
Manila by Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
Twenty-Five years later, Deacon Cesar still thinks that his mission has
just begun, indeed a real missionary attitude. His mission statement is
‘to effectively promote and practice the image of Christ as the master
who came not to be served but to serve’. Often times mistaken as a real
priest, Deacon Cesar’s zealousness to his special calling is at par with
the ordained priests of the Catholic Church.
Until his last, Deacon Cesar continued to serve the Lord in the Parish
of Our Lady of the Rosary in Doha, Qatar. He prepared and assisted in
the celebration of the Holy Masses. He taught catechism to children and
adults; and actively animated the children’s mass every Friday.
Occasionally, he fills in when priests are not available to celebrate in
the out-stations. Indeed Deacon Cesar continued to be of much help to
the Parish.
Deacon Cesar’s endeavor to ensure that Catholic faithful in Qatar
continuously carry out their religious obligations is an incomparable
undertaking worthy of recognition for people to emulate and for
Filipinos to be proud of.
Now, Deacon Cesar is gone but he left us a legacy – he showed us how to
compete well, how to finish the race and how to keep the faith. Thank
you Deacon, you may now rest in peace.
Goodbye! Be our new intercessor.
__._,_.___
