Join the Mercedarian Sisters- for the 90th Anniversary of the MMB Arrival to Saipan in 1928 with Sunday Mass, March 4th at 11 A.M. at Maturana.
One significant characteristic of the Mercedarian Charism is our Redemptive Fourth Vow. In addition to the three religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, professed by all religious men and women, through the fourth vow we commit ourselves “ to remain in the mission when there would be danger of losing one’s life, if the good of our sisters and brothers so demands.” This vowed commitment has given great strength to Mercedarians in carrying out the mission we have been entrusted with throughout the centuries. The grace of this vow gave incredible trust and perseverance to our sisters during the frightening war times, during the building up and tearing down times, during the “ starting over, yet again times”. “ To remain” with our people in their suffering, in their joy, and even in times of grave danger, expresses our desire to follow Christ’s example of “ laying down our lives for others”. It is what gives life, vitality and meaning to the Dream – the “stuff” real dreams are made of!
And so, after building up and opening horizons, and experiencing the pain of watching Mt. Carmel being “torn down” during the typhoons that struck Saipan during the 1960’s, the Mercedarian Sisters once again began to rebuild! Their desire to remain with their people in Saipan knew no limits. And yet they knew that the times were changing and new calls would have to be given attention.
New directions were taken during the next twenty year period – 1970-1990. A new ministry was established with the opening of Maturana House of Prayer on Navy Hill. The Sisters had been desiring and discerning about a prayer ministry for Saipan – a place where people could go for private and group retreats, a place of solitude and silence which would enable people to rest in the Lord. It became all of that, plus a meeting place for the Marriage Encounter, the Cursillo Movement and for Youth Ministry. The new ministry opened up new horizons for the sisters and offered new ways of presence among the people of Saipan.
It was during the 1980’s that the Mercedarians ended several years of leadership at Mt. Carmel School. However, the Sisters tried to maintain their presence and interest in the school through teaching on the staff and participating in Mt. Carmel activities. During the same period, the Sisters renewed their involvement in the Sr. Remedios Early Childhood Development Center. A number of MMB’s and young women in formation worked at the pre-school during these years, maintaining their interest in early childhood education.
After years without new candidates, the Community was blessed at this time with new vocations to MMB life and so the Sisters re-opened the Formation Program in Saipan. Young women from the various islands of the Federated States of Micronesia and from Palau came to Saipan to begin their early formation as MMB’s. The “ big house” in Chalan Kanoa became the Formation House for the training of these young women and remains the center of Formation for us until today. As part of their formation, they offered service within the ministries the Sisters were involved in. They taught CCD in several parishes, took part in the weekly Diocesan Radio programs, served in the Youth Ministry at Maturana House of Prayer and were teachers aides at Mt. Carmel School and Sr. Remedios Early Childhood Development Center.
Other types of ministries were also entered into during this time period. Mercedarian Sisters continued to teach catechism at several different parishes around the Island, and to help in the music ministry . They became involved in home visitation – visiting individual homes for Church census taking, visiting the home bound, bringing communion to those unable to get to the Church, as well as, other types of pastoral ministry done in and through various parishes. As education has always been an important MMB ministry, the Sisters expanded their horizons during this time to include public school education at Hopwood and Marianas High School.
Through all these various ministries and involvements the Sisters continued “to remain “ with their people in Saipan, living out their fourth vow commitment and the Dream continued….
To be continued . . . .
