The Association of the Mercedarian Missionary Youth of Berriz was founded in 1920, by Mother Margarita at the Vera Cruz School in Berriz. This year marks 100 years since its founding.
This is significant because in actuality this was the beginning of the great transformation that would take place some 10 years later when the Mercedarian Sisters of Berriz, a cloistered order, would become a missionary order, the Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz (MMB).
In 1873 the Mercedarian Sisters, opened a section of their convent and converted it to a school for girls. The name of the girl’s school was the Vera Cruz School. The Sisters found it necessary to do this to financially support themselves.
In the early 1900’s, the missionary spirit was felt throughout Spain, and before 1919 projects at the school in Berriz reflected this missionary spirit. This was due in great part to the influence of Father Antonio Sierra, S.J. The spirit was moving and God was there.
On January 18, 1919, Father Juan Vicente Zengotita, a Carmelite, visited the Berriz school before leaving to the Mission in Verapoly (India) and on September 13, Father Jose Vidaurrazaga, S.J. also visited the school on the day before his trip to the mission in Wuhu (China).
At first glance, it may appear as insignificant acts, brief and casual visits, when in truth it was the planting of a seed in a place well prepared to receive the gospel…
But it was also a decisive moment in Berriz, one of those moments in which as Mother Margarita said, “God shows us a path to follow and then leaves it to our free will to respond.” Mother Margarita’s soul is moved; she sees the image of a pagan country that pleads with her, and before her eyes immense horizons unfold, bigger every day. From here on, the ideal missionary redeemer, would be manifested in Mother Margarita and through her throughout the school in Berriz.
“Mother Margarita, a teacher at the school and an excellent educator, worked tirelessly to impart a missionary spirit among the girls instilling in them a love of the missions. Under the guidance of Mother Margarita, the girls worked in a variety of ways to collaborate with the spreading of the Gospel to all parts of the world.”
The year is 1920. The young students emanate missionary enthusiasm. In their summer pamphlet “VACATIONS” the students begin to express their concern and fervor for the missions.
On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, the first MEETING ABOUT MISSIONS takes place. It is about MISSIONARY YOUTH, the first in Spain, that has emerged from the necessity of giving a framework to the spirit and zealousness that for an entire year had invaded Berriz.
Letters and donations (from the Mercedarian Missionary Youth) rain down upon all the continents carrying sympathy, remedy (advice) and encouragement to missionaries of diverse religious orders: Carmelites, Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans and Claretians.
Carnivals and plays are organized to generate funds for the missions and on-going formation for being missionary intensifies with monthly conferences by Mother Margarita.
The goals of the girls participating in the Mercedarian Missionary Youth Association were renewed every year on March 19. They, in turn, continued to be the agents conveying this missionary enthusiasm through their teachers to the community of sisters in the convent.
The summer pamphlet “VACATIONS” evolves into a more serious work and becomes the annual MERCEDARIAN MISSIONARY YOUTH magazine. What is more important is that the spirit of piety and sacrifice at the school reaches unbelievable heights. Mother Margarita had reason to say that she had entered the most beautiful and most profound time of her life.
Sr. Immaculata (Macu) Ochoa-Retana, MMB currently missioned to Maturana, Saipan and a missionary in Micronesia for the past 52 years was a young girl in the Berriz school in the early 1940’s. She says that there were approximately 80 boarding girls in the school at that time and the focus of the entire school was the MISSIONS. The enthusiasm of the girls was fueled by letters received from the missionaries sharing about their missions, which the sisters in charge of each division (year) in the school would share with them in the evenings. Until now, she lights up when she recalls that very special time—even now as a 90 year old–Mercedarian Missionary of Berriz.
Mother Margarita intercede to God for renewed enthusiasm for your mission in our world today!
