Fr. Jaime Monserrat Caldés was born on May 27, 1935 in Llucmajor, Mallorca. Son of the late Sebastián and Catalina. He was baptized on June 2, 1935 in the Parish of San Miguel de Llucmajor and confirmed on October 12, 1936.
He received the Franciscan habit at the Porziuncola on September 7, 1952 and after the Novitiate, made in Artà. He also made his temporary profession there on September 15, 1953 and the Solemn Profession at the Porziuncola on September 17, 1959. Between the years 1957 and 1958, he received the minor orders; the subdiaconate on April 2, 1960 and the diaconate on September 24, 1960. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Jesús Enciso y Viana on December 17, 1960.
He studied the humanities at the Porziuncola, philosophy at the Inca and Palma and theology at Porziuncola and Palma.
From September 1961 to May 1962, he was assigned to the Sanctuary of Cura. From May 1962 to March 1971, he went to Poconé, Brazil and was local Minister of the Fraternity from 1967 to 1970. From March 1971 to August 1977, he was assigned to the Shrine of Cura as local Minister. From August 1977 to October 1978, he was assigned to the Fraternity-Parish of Barcelona as Coadjutor Vicar. From November 1978 to August 1981, he was again stationed at Cura.
In the provincial congregation of 1977, he was elected Provincial Definitor and Treasurer. It was during his tenure as Treasurer that the dependencies of the old Cura Novitiate were transformed into a hotel and restaurant.
In the Provincial Congregation of 1981, he was appointed Provincial Treasurer and assigned to the Fraternity of the Porziuncola as Treasurer of that Fraternity.
For one year, from September 1981 to 1982, he was responsible for the Cura Sanctuary in the absence of the Provincial Minister. In August 1982 he resigned as Treasurer of the Porziuncola.
In August 1983, after resigning the post of Provincial Treasurer and Treasurer of the Porziuncola, positions to which had been re-elected in the Provincial Congregation of 1981, he was assigned to the Commissariat of Mexico.
After the Congregation of the year 1985, he returned to Spain and was assigned to the Fraternity-Parish of Santo Niño de Cebú as Coadjutor Vicar and in January 1986 he was assigned to Peru as Pastor of the Parish of Huamachuco. After the 1989 Congregation, he returned to Mallorca and was assigned to the Fraternity of San Francisco de Palma as Councilor and Treasurer. In September of the same year, he was appointed Parish Priest of Pina, Mallorca.
On September 6, 1996, he was assigned to the Fraternity of San Juan de Mata, Barcelona, as local Minister and after the Provincial Congregation of 1997, he was assigned to the Fraternity of Porziuncola as Head of Provincial Nursing, treasurer of the Fraternity and Collaborating and supportive parish priest of the Pina and Pil.larí parishes.
After the Provincial Congregation of 2001, he was again assigned to the Shrine of Our Lady of Cura as local Minister and treasurer and in charge of SERAS and Social Security. And in 2005 he became part of the Pastoral Team of the Llucmajor parish. In the Provincial Congregation of 2009, he is assigned to the Fraternity of the Porziuncola as head of Provincial Nursing and counselor of the fraternity. In 2013, he assumed the positions of Vocal of the CAE, in charge of SERAS and RETA and was appointed Rector of the Church of the Porziuncola.
In the Provincial Congregation of 2017, he was appointed Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Cura and assigned to the Provincial Nursing.
If we were to define our brother Jaime, the title of itinerant friar and fulfiller of all the offices entrusted to him would be the most appropriate. From Brazil, through Peru and Mexico and through different destinations in the Peninsula and Majorca, an extensive map can be easily traced with all his great activity.
He was a missionary, parish priest, administrator, in charge of the provincial infirmary, local minister and responsible for other areas and works related to the care and well-being of the brothers. And he did it all with Franciscan simplicity and efficiency.
His invitation to his family and the Fraternity of the Porziuncola to participate in the Ceremony of his Anointing of the Sick held on October 24 and presided over by Fr. Jaume Puigserver, Provincial Minister, was a sign of spiritual maturity and Christian acceptance of the will of God. We should also mention his devotion to Our Lady of Cura and the care of her Shrine, especially during his last years of life.
He entered the Father’s House on November 1, Feast of All Saints, at 5:15 AM. On November 4 at 8pm. the funeral mass was held in the Church of the Porziuncola (Mallorca).