Ioan Duma, O. F. M. Conv., was secretly elected titular bishop of Giuliopoli on November 16, 1948, by Pope Pius XII. He was scheduled to serve as auxiliary bishop of Iaşi diocese, whose ordinary, bishop Anton Durcovici, was one of the first victims of the new regime. Gerald Patrick O’Hara, Apostolic Nuncio in Romania, consecrated Fr. Duma in secret on December 8, 1948, in the chapel of the Bucharestian nunciature.
Bishop Duma never was acknowledged by the state in his episcopal functions and never was able to exercise his duties. When he died on July 16, 1981, the Holy See published his death and for the first time announced he had been a bishop after St. Paul VI. had received him in audience before.
Shortly after the clandestine consecrations in 1948/1949 the state knew about these new bishops after the secret service – maybe by the nuncio’s driver – got a list with the names of the consecrated prelates. Ioan Duma, too, was arrested and spent a long time in captivity.
His family trades a story from his time in prison which illustrates his martyrdom. His nephew Ioan Antal reports: „One night, when he was beaten, one guardian broke fingers from his right hand, and he prayed all night. He was wondering, how he could do in future the Holy Mass, and how he could play organ. In the morning his fingers were again in perfect condition.“
Duma’s grand nephew Andrei Ioan Antal tells about the bishop’s surveillance by secret police: „My father remembers that when he visited bishop Ioan Duma in Targu Jiu, his mother (bishop’s sister) dressed him like a beggar, because in front of his house in Targu Jiu were communists officers. He was searched less if he was dressed like that. If some one of his family dared to pay him a visit, the officers were present permanently. It was easier to come like a beggar. Bishop’s sister sent to him like this a lot of money and personal things, and the bishop sent back letters with his poems and some prayers. So my father was a messenger when he was a child.“
„The first picture shows a radio „AKKORD“ (german one). In his house in Targu Jiu, in all the rooms there were microphones of communist ofiicers. So when my father came to him, he turn on the radio very loud, and whispered very quickly to my father some message for another priest of his family. The microphones couldn’t record the whispers, so is was a very good idea. This radio is in a perfect condition and it is in my house. The second picture is a chandelier. It was bishop’s chandelier from his parent’s house. It has probably 150 years. It works with petrol. It is covered with blue cobalt.“
The last picture shows Andrei Ioan Antal, the bishop’s grand nephew.
He says: „I found an old nun, who helped him in his last years. She told us amazing stories. The first picture is from 11 november 1971. The pope Paul VI has invited bishop Ioan Duma in Vatican to join a synod. But the communist officers didn’t allow that and told him: We are very sorry, but there are no places in the airplane for you. So, bishop Ioan Duma has informed Vatican, and the pope himself sent his personal airplane to get bishop Ioan Duma and told: Be calm, they can’t do anything about that. So, bishop Ioan Duma could get in time for the synod.“
Pope Paul VI meets Bishop Duam in private audience, 1971
„The second photo is the only picture with his mother. It is the first public appearance after his detention in Aiud. First of all, he wants to visit his mother. It was the person who loved him the most. This picture is from 1957. On 3 march 1958, his mother died. It was a shock for him.“
Bishop Duma with his mother, 1957
First Holy Cummunion in Romania
Bishop Duma on his catafalque; mid-right his sister with her spouse
left, middle, right: three sons of the bishop’s sister
July 1981: countless fairthfull oppose the regime and honour Bishop Duma on his last way
Ioan Antal, the bishop’s nephew, with his wife Maria. They contributed these never shown before photos from the late bishop.
The picture with the first communion scene comes from the archive of Hofrat Dr. Manfred Kierein, Vienna. All other pictures come from the private property of the bishop’s family.