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Bishop Camacho ill following lung surgery
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Posted on Nov 09 2008
Bishop Thomas A. Camacho was not able to attend the culminating mass of the 20th Asia Pacific Encounter at Mt. Carmel Church in Chalan Kanoa yesterday because of the prelate’s ill- health.
Rev. Fr. Ryan P. Jimenez said the Bishop’s “level of energy is never the same as it was before” and said this has something to do with a lung surgery the bishop underwent last May.
Camacho joined the opening day discussions of the four-day 20th APE last Friday morning at the Palms Resort Saipan.
He was expected to be present at the mass but at the last minute called and asked to be excused. Jimenez said the bishop preferred to stay at home.
Over 80 participants from as far as Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and host CNMI joined the mass. The event is a biennial gathering of members of the Cursillo Movement in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The group has offered prayers for Bishop Camacho’s speedy recovery.
“We really wanted him to be part of the occasion. The success of this Encounter is that we draw support from the bishop. The spirit is there but the body is weak, said Jimenez.
Just last Sept. 18, Bishop Camacho submitted his mandatory resignation as Bishop of Chalan Kanoa when he turned 75.
According to Canon law, Bishop Camacho is required to turn in his resignation on his 75th birthday and wait for a response from the Vatican.
Jimenez explained that the resignation letter had been sent to Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific, who will turn it over to the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI.
Balvo earlier visited the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.
“We’re still waiting for the result. The next step is for the bishop to give three nominations for the next bishop,” Jimenez said.
After that, the next process would be for the Vatican to have a background check on the three nominees.
This transition would take one year.
Jimenez said the Holy See might even extend Bishop Camacho’s term but this “would really depend on the Pope’s decision.”
But because of his present condition, Jimenez said the bishop told him that he might not be able to stay.
“The bishop is tired,” he said.
There is no information yet as to when the bishop will announce his three nominees.
