The “Dream” continued for the Mercedarian Missionaries in the 60’s primarily in the field of education at Mt. Carmel School. The Sisters administered the School throughout these years and made up most of the teaching staff. In addition, several young women who were “aspirants” to the Mercedarian lifestyle attended Mt. Carmel, in order to complete their high school education. The School was full – even overflowing – and the curriculum included the usual academic subjects and religious education plus home economics, shop, art, music and sports. Parents, staff members, the Sisters, the Capuchins and students worked together to support projects and activities and to make Mt. Carmel School a center of educational excellence.
Of special remembrance during those years were the dramas, variety shows, the Christmas and Passion plays presented by the students. Srs. Bertha, Rosario, Felicia, Mary Louise with the cooperation of other MMB’s spent many hours creating the scripts, working with the staff and parents to make the sets, to sew the costumes and to practice, practice, practice with the students. The plays celebrated the Christian mystery of salvation and touched the hearts of all who participated and all who attended them. The long hours of work and practice evaporated in the joy students and families experienced as the Scriptures came alive and were proclaimed for all to see.
Two additional areas during the 60’s added to the building up of MMB ministry and life in Saipan. The beginning stages of the Formation program for young women interested in becoming MMB’s was flourishing. Formation on “the Hill” – Maturana Hill – included Aspirants, Postulants, Novices and young sisters in Temporary Commitment. The young women represented a cross- section of Micronesia and that added additional enrichment to their program .The quonset huts left from the Navy time were the residences of these young women at Maturana. Srs. Bertha, Aurora, Pilar, Delia, Ana Maria and others accompanied the young women in their search for their vocation in life and in their formation and training in religious life. The first Final Profession of MMB’s took place in Saipan on February 4, 1964 and it was a day of exuberant joy and celebration.
Around the same time, there opened a new horizon for young women from all parts of Micronesia. Given the limitations of education at that time, plus the continued growth of Mt. Carmel School, the sisters felt it was essential to open up and enable educational opportunities for girls from other islands. They opened
an international residence for girls in Chalan Kanoa and it was soon filled with students from Palau, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, Ulithi, and the Marshall Islands. The students lived at the residence, had their own program and attended classes at Mt. Carmel. Through means of the Residence, the MMB educational ministry would have far-reaching results.
The Scriptures remind us that “there is a time for everything under the heavens – a time for building and a time for tearing down…” Ecc.3:1,4. The time for “tearing down” came to Saipan and the Mercedarians with the dreaded warnings: “ We are in Condition 2 – prepare; Condition 1 – take cover….” Devastating typhoons with names like “Olive” and “Jean” literally tore down all that had been built up so lovingly in the former years. After Olive, recovery was slow, but sure. The Mt. Carmel School library, home economics and art classes were moved to the convent while re- construction went on. Then came Typhoon Jean, with 200+mph winds that destroyed Mt. Carmel, as well as, all the buildings of the Formation House at Maturana. So much work, effort and hope for the future had gone into the school and the formation site for the MMB’s! The Priests, sisters and people of Saipan had given so much to make it all happen that it was painful to even look at the devastation.
However, with a hope that springs from deep trust in God and with a resiliency that meets all challenges, the people of Saipan, the MMB sisters, and the priests rolled up their sleeves and began to rebuild their lives once again…. And the “Dream” continued….
To be continued. .
