In times of difficulties, the Lord continues to move. Sometimes we have things to think about on how to move forward despite the challenges in our lives; an approach on how we can overcome this.

Fr. Lamberto Ramos — a widower, referred as a "special one" in the Catholic Church. In celebrating his installation as the Shrine Rector and Parish Administrator of the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned, let's go back to his path before he entered the vocation as a priest.

Born on September 19, 1951, in Malolos, Bulacan. He dedicated himself to entering seminary.  When he turned 19, he earned Magna Cum Laude the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at San Carlos Seminary in 1971. In the same year, little did he know that this would be a turning point in his calling.

While teaching Philosophy at the College of the Holy Spirit, he met a woman who changed the course of his life. When he was about to enter the priesthood, he met Vilma de Guzman. After Vilma finished school in 1973, they decided to get married two years later and had three children.

In 2007, his wife, Vilma was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. His wife's illness ruined their love in their nearly 34 years of marriage — when Vilma passed away in 2009. It was one of the most painful things that happened to  Lamberto.

Before his wife died, she said to Lamberto to consider entering the priesthood, a seeming to be dying wish to her husband.

Here, Lamberto considered his wife's last wishes. He entered Loyola School of Theology in 2014 and was ordained as a priest on June 1, 2018, in the Diocese of Antipolo.

The Diocese accepted him, and Bishop Francisco De Leon explained that he could have entered into the priesthood as long as they had no longer commitments. "It is allowed as long as the children are all grown-up and there are no core commitments. His children are all professionals", Bp. Francisco said.

Fr. Lamberto Ramos is an excellent example for others to follow. The turning points in his life led him to still, consider and heed the Calling of God.

Reverend Father Lamberto Ramos is the current Shrine Rector and Parish Administrator of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned.

Congratulations, Fr. Lambert!