Mercedarian Sisters mark 86 years on Saipan

The Mercedarian Sisters arrive on Saipan by boat on March 4, 1928, landing at the Pantalan Aleman across the site where the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan now sits. The Sisters are Loreto Subia, Inocencia Urizar, Pilar Lorenzo, Maria Teresa Cortazar and Aurora Chopitea. (Contributed Photo)

By SR. MARYANN HARTMANN, MMB
Special to the Saipan Tribune

The Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz, an international community of religious women, will celebrate today, March 4, the 86th anniversary of their arrival on Saipan.

Eighty-six years ago, five Sisters—Sisters Loreto Zubia, Inocencia Urizar, Pilar Lorenzo, Maria Teresa Cortazar and Aurora Chopitea—arrived on Saipan on March 4, 1928, after traveling for more than three months, having left their motherhouse of Berriz in the north of Spain on Oct. 30, 1927.

They arrived on Saipan by boat, and landed at the Pantalan Aleman, right across the place where the Kristo Rai Church now sits in Garapan.

The first thing that they did was kneel down and kiss the ground, thanking God for having called them to this mission in such a far away country. With all the women on one side and all the men on the other singing Atan Jesukristo and Asaina Jesus, the Sisters proceeded with Jesuit Frs. Dionisio de la Fuente and Luis Carlos Faber to the church.

The early days of the Sisters on Saipan required plenty of adjustments, but despite not knowing any of the local languages, they tried to respond to the persistent requests of the young women that they open a school. Only 15 days after their arrival, on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, they did so.

Twelve Chamorro girls and 12 Carolinian girls had their instruction in classes, which were held from 9am to 12pm Monday through Saturday. Japanese girls also came in the afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.

This was the humble beginning that the Mercedarian Sisters had on the island, eventually also in other apostolic works such as teaching doktrina, and offering classes in piano, Spanish, drawing, flower arrangement, and later home economics-cooking and sewing. Many years and experiences ensued, not the least of which was the experience of World War II.

In 1951, Our Lady of Mercy Kindergarten, now called Sr. Remedios Early Childhood Development Center, was opened. In 1952, Mt. Carmel School would be established and later, in 1979, the Maturana House of Prayer.

The names, the faces, the places of origin, and even the style of dress of the different Sisters throughout the years have changed, but the love, care, concern, and dedication continue.