Nourished by that same source from the living water, the Mercedarian Community of Saipan reminisced their 90th year of celebrating their arrival in the island of Saipan on March 4, 1928. In his homily Bishop Ryan emphasized the stimulus that impelled Mother Margarita to mission, expressed in her own words, “From these three glances, at Christ, at His Mother and at the Church, came forth the irresistible desire to become missionaries. . .” To go out and proclaim God’s message of mercy and love marked their humble beginnings as a community.
Five lit candles, with the names of the first MMB sisters to arrive in 1928– Sr. Aurora Chopitea, Sr. Maria Teresa Cortazar, Sr. Pilar Lorenzo, Sr. Inocencia Urizar and Sr. Loreto Zubia were solemnly processed in and placed at the base of the picture of Mother Margarita before the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration.
For the celebration all the MMB Sisters wore mwarmwars of yellow and white daisies, connecting them to their foundress, since “margarita” is Spanish means “daisy”.
From one of the lists of the documents of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF), Bishop Ryan shared that Salvation comes from Christ crucified alone and that salvation is not subjective but communal. Remembering the first community of sisters, the Bishop stated that the reason of the arrival is always grounded on their gaze at the cross of Christ. For this we have to give thanks but the Bishop led the community and the faithful present in the celebration to always take the challenge of asking ourselves when it comes to the concern of vocation both in the priesthood and the religious life. Are our young people still have the same gaze to continue the mission? If not, where do we fail? Our young people in the island is definitely in need of guidance especially in the discernment of their call and in the formation of faith.
Towards the end of the his reflection, having been made aware of another miracle for the canonization of Blessed Margarita Maturana, he fervently asked through her intercession a miracle which is not only physical but of transformation of our faith. That our faith may truly be strengthened because each of our role is important in our journey as a diocese.
