Widower becomes priest at 66
can’t believe that I’m now a priest. And if I’m dreaming, I don’t want to wake up.” This is what newly ordained Fr. Lambert Ramos uttered when he was our guest last Sunday in our DZMM program “Salitang Buhay” at 9-10 p.m.
Fr. Lambert couldn’t believe he is now a priest because he got married, siring three children, when he was in his 40s. His obsession to become a priest led him to enter San Carlos Seminary at Guadalupe, Makati. He took up philosophy, hoping to finish his priestly course there but that did not happen.
On the advice of his spiritual director, he went on regency and taught philosophy at the College of the Holy Spirit, Mendiola, Manila.
There he met his future wife, Maria Vilma de Guzman, who was his student. That was the end of his lofty ambition of becoming a celibate priest. Or so it seemed.
The Ramos couple had three children – Johann, Carlo Miguel and Ana Kristina. To support his family, Lambert moved to the corporate world. Though working as a manager at various companies, he found the time to earn postgraduate degrees in marketing, management, business, economics, and philosophy.
Something, however, happened which revived his “first love” of becoming a priest. Vilma got sick of colon cancer which eventually caused her death. The loss was devastating for Lambert. But it opened another window and that was to go back to his youthful aspiration of joining the religious life.
He decided to return to the seminary and resumed his ecclesiastical studies, this time at the Loyola House of Studies. The question was: “Would his age at mid-60s allow him to reenter?”
He consulted some priests and bishops including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and all said: “We’ve gone through all the teachings of the Church on the issue of age, but could not find any impediment.” The excited aspirant thought it as a clear will of God.
Towards the end of his two-year diplomate in theological studies, he was ordained a deacon in December, 2017, and last June 1st he was ordained priest at age 66 at the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church in Marikina City.
Some classmates in the seminary who were in their 20s and mid-30s kidded him, saying: “Tito Lambert, after a few years, you’re a retiree and that’s close to entering the ‘pre-departure area’ (retirement house)!” Priest’s retirement age is 75.
Fr. Lambert had something to say to that. “I have a lot to contribute to the parishes and to the whole diocese. With my managerial experience, among others, I will help professionalize the financial systems and work for financial self-sufficiency in the parishes.”
He said further that he was more than prepared to take on the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity, as he already bequeathed his worldly possessions to his three children and sold his house in Quezon City.
“I’m 66 years old. I have nothing to prove. There should no more selfish motives here, but only to serve for the greatest glory of God.”
MORE BLEST. I said jokingly, “Fr. Lambert, you’re more blest now than Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD (my co-host), and myself. Know why?
“When you pass away from this world (hopefully not so soon!), you will have received all the 7 Sacraments of the Church, including Marriage! Can you beat that?”
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